God Is Our Refuge and Strength

461 To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. On Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, a help in distresses, very readily found. 2 Therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the heart of the seas; 3 Though the waters thereof roar [and] foam, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the sanctuary of the habitations of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her at the dawn of the morning.

6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 Jehovah of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our high fortress. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of Jehovah, what desolations he hath made in the earth: 9 He hath made wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariots in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 Jehovah of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our high fortress. Selah.

God Is the King of All the Earth

471 To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. All ye peoples, clap your hands; shout unto God with the voice of triumph! 2 For Jehovah, the Most High, is terrible, a great king over all the earth. 3 He subdueth the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. 4 He hath chosen our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

5 God is gone up amid shouting, Jehovah amid the sound of the trumpet. 6 Sing psalms of God, sing psalms; sing psalms unto our King, sing psalms! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing psalms with understanding. 8 God reigneth over the nations; God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. 9 The willing-hearted of the peoples have gathered together, [with] the people of the God of Abraham. For unto God [belong] the shields of the earth: he is greatly exalted.

The Beauty and Glory of Zion

481 A Song; a Psalm. Of the sons of Korah. Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the hill of his holiness. 2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King. 3 God is known in her palaces as a high fortress. 4 For behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together; 5 They saw,—so they marvelled; they were troubled, they fled in consternation: 6 Trembling took hold upon them there; anguish, as of a woman in travail. 7 With an east wind thou hast broken the ships of Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God doth establish it for ever. Selah. 9 We have thought, O God, of thy loving-kindness, in the midst of thy temple. 10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: count the towers thereof; 13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces: that ye may tell it to the generation following. 14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide until death.

Paul on the Island of Melita

281 And when we got safe [to land] we then knew that the island was called Melita. 2 But the barbarians shewed us no common kindness; for, having kindled a fire, they took us all in because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 And Paul having gathered a [certain] quantity of sticks together in a bundle and laid [it] on the fire, a viper coming out from the heat seized his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, This man is certainly a murderer, whom, [though] saved out of the sea, Nemesis has not allowed to live. 5 He however, having shaken off the beast into the fire, felt no harm. 6 But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down suddenly dead. But when they had expected a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, changing their opinion, they said he was a god. 7 Now in the country surrounding that place were the lands belonging to the chief man of the island, by name Publius, who received us and gave [us] hospitality three days in a very friendly way. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay ill of fever and dysentery; to whom Paul entered in, and having prayed and laid his hands on him cured him. 9 But this having taken place, the rest also who had sicknesses in the island came and were healed: 10 who also honoured us with many honours, and on our leaving they made presents to us of what should minister to our wants.

Paul Arrives at Rome

11 And after three months we sailed in a ship which had wintered in the island, an Alexandrian, with [the] Dioscuri for its ensign. 12 And having come to Syracuse we remained three days. 13 Whence, going in a circuitous course, we arrived at Rhegium; and after one day, the wind having changed to south, on the second day we came to Puteoli, 14 where, having found brethren, we were begged to stay with them seven days. And thus we went to Rome. 15 And thence the brethren, having heard about us, came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Tres Tabernae, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage. 16 And when we came to Rome, [the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the praetorian prefect, but] Paul was allowed to remain by himself with the soldier who kept him.

Paul Preaches in Rome

17 And it came to pass after three days, that he called together those who were the chief of the Jews; and when they had come together he said to them, Brethren, I having done nothing against the people or the customs of our forefathers, have been delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who having examined me were minded to let me go, because there was nothing worthy of death in me. 19 But the Jews speaking against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not as having anything to accuse my nation of. 20 For this cause therefore I have called you to [me] to see and to speak to you; for on account of the hope of Israel I have this chain about me. 21 And they said to him, For our part, we have neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor has any one of the brethren who has arrived reported or said anything evil concerning thee. 22 But we beg to hear of thee what thou thinkest, for as concerning this sect it is known to us that it is everywhere spoken against.

23 And having appointed him a day many came to him to the lodging, to whom he expounded, testifying of the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from early morning to evening. 24 And some were persuaded of the things which were said, but some disbelieved. 25 And being disagreed among themselves they left; Paul having spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Spirit through Esaias the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying, Go to this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear and not understand, and seeing ye shall see and not perceive. 27 For the heart of this people has become fat, and they hear heavily with their ears, and they have closed their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known to you therefore, that this salvation of God has been sent to the nations; they also will hear [it]. 29 [And he having said this, the Jews went away, having great reasoning among themselves.]

30 And he remained two whole years in his own hired lodging, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all freedom unhinderedly.