The Righteous and the Ungodly

1¹ O the happiness of that one, who Hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked. And in the way of sinners hath not stood, And in the seat of scorners hath not sat; ² But—in the law of Jehovah 'is' his delight, And in His law he doth meditate by day and by night: ³ And he hath been as a tree, Planted by rivulets of water, That giveth its fruit in its season, And its leaf doth not wither, And all that he doth he causeth to prosper.

⁴ Not so the wicked: But—as chaff that wind driveth away! ⁵ Therefore the wicked rise not in judgment, Nor sinners in the company of the righteous, ⁶ For Jehovah is knowing the way of the righteous, And the way of the wicked is lost!

The Reign of the LORD's Anointed

2¹ Why have nations tumultuously assembled? And do peoples meditate vanity? ² Station themselves do kings of the earth, And princes have been united together, Against Jehovah, and against His Messiah: ³ 'Let us draw off Their cords, And cast from us Their thick bands.' ⁴ He who is sitting in the heavens doth laugh, The Lord doth mock at them. ⁵ Then doth He speak unto them in His anger, And in His wrath He doth trouble them: ⁶ 'And I—I have anointed My King, Upon Zion—My holy hill.'

⁷ I declare concerning a statute: Jehovah said unto me, 'My Son Thou 'art', I to-day have brought thee forth. ⁸ Ask of Me and I give nations—thy inheritance, And thy possession—the ends of earth. ⁹ Thou dost rule them with a sceptre of iron, As a vessel of a potter Thou dost crush them.'

¹⁰ And now, O kings, act wisely, Be instructed, O judges of earth, ¹¹ Serve ye Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling. ¹² Kiss the Chosen One, lest He be angry, And ye lose the way, When His anger burneth but a little, O the happiness of all trusting in Him!

A Morning Prayer of Trust in God

3¹ Jehovah, how have my distresses multiplied! Many are rising up against me. ² Many are saying of my soul, 'There is no salvation for him in God.' Selah. ³ And Thou, O Jehovah, 'art' a shield for me, My honour, and lifter up of my head.

⁴ My voice 'is' unto Jehovah: I call: And He answereth me from his holy hill, Selah. ⁵ I—I have lain down, and I sleep, I have waked, for Jehovah sustaineth me. ⁶ I am not afraid of myriads of people, That round about they have set against me. ⁷ Rise, O Jehovah! save me, my God. Because Thou hast smitten All mine enemies 'on' the cheek. The teeth of the wicked Thou hast broken. ⁸ Of Jehovah 'is' this salvation; On Thy people 'is' Thy blessing! Selah.

The Uproar in Thessalonica

17¹ And having passed through Amphipolis, and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was the synagogue of the Jews, ² and according to the custom of Paul, he went in unto them, and for three sabbaths he was reasoning with them from the Writings, ³ opening and alleging, 'That the Christ it behoved to suffer, and to rise again out of the dead, and that this is the Christ—Jesus whom I proclaim to you.' ⁴ And certain of them did believe, and attached themselves to Paul and to Silas, also of the worshipping Greeks a great multitude, of the principal women also not a few. ⁵ And the unbelieving Jews, having been moved with envy, and having taken to them of the loungers certain evil men, and having made a crowd, were setting the city in an uproar; having assailed also the house of Jason, they were seeking them to bring 'them' to the populace, ⁶ and not having found them, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the city rulers, calling aloud—'These, having put the world in commotion, are also here present, ⁷ whom Jason hath received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying another to be king—Jesus.' ⁸ And they troubled the multitude and the city rulers, hearing these things, ⁹ and having taking security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

The Apostles at Beroea

¹⁰ And the brethren immediately, through the night, sent forth both Paul and Silas to Berea, who having come, went to the synagogue of the Jews; ¹¹ and these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all readiness of mind, every day examining the Writings whether those things were so; ¹² many, indeed, therefore, of them did believe, and of the honourable Greek women and men not a few. ¹³ And when the Jews from Thessalonica knew that also in Berea was the word of God declared by Paul, they came thither also, agitating the multitudes; ¹⁴ and then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul, to go on as it were to the sea, but both Silas and Timothy were remaining there. ¹⁵ And those conducting Paul, brought him unto Athens, and having received a command unto Silas and Timotheus that with all speed they may come unto him, they departed;