1401 To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Free me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man: 2 Who devise mischiefs in [their] heart; every day are they banded together for war. 3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah. 4 Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked [man], preserve me from the violent man, who devise to overthrow my steps. 5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way-side; they have set traps for me. Selah. 6 I have said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God: give ear, O Jehovah, to the voice of my supplications. 7 Jehovah, the Lord, is the strength of my salvation: thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O Jehovah, the desire of the wicked; further not his device: they would exalt themselves. Selah. 9 [As for] the head of those that encompass me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10 Let burning coals fall on them; let them be cast into the fire; into deep waters, that they rise not up again. 11 Let not the man of [evil] tongue be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the man of violence to [his] ruin. 12 I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted one, the right of the needy. 13 Yea, the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name; the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
1411 Jehovah, I have called upon thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee. 2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening oblation. 3 Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise deeds of wickedness with men that are workers of iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.
5 Let the righteous smite me, it is kindness; and let him reprove me, it is an excellent oil which my head shall not refuse: for yet my prayer also is [for them] in their calamities. 6 When their judges are thrown down from the rocks, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet. 7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol, as when one cutteth and cleaveth [wood] upon the earth. 8 For unto thee, Jehovah, Lord, are mine eyes; in thee do I trust: leave not my soul destitute. 9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the traps of the workers of iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal pass over.
1421 An instruction of David; when he was in the cave: a prayer. I cry unto Jehovah with my voice: with my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication. 2 I pour out my plaint before him; I shew before him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they hidden a snare for me.
4 Look on the right hand and see; there is no man that knoweth me: refuge hath failed me; no man careth for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee, Jehovah; I said, Thou art my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may celebrate thy name. The righteous shall surround me, because thou dealest bountifully with me.
141 Follow after love, and be emulous of spiritual [manifestations], but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaks with a tongue does not speak to men but to God: for no one hears; but in spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he that prophesies speaks to men [in] edification, and encouragement, and consolation. 4 He that speaks with a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies [the] assembly. 5 Now I desire that ye should all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy. But greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interpret, that the assembly may receive edification.
6 And now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching? 7 Even lifeless things giving a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they give not distinction to the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For also, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for war? 9 Thus also ye with the tongue, unless ye give a distinct speech, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking to the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of undistinguishable sound. 11 If therefore I do not know the power of the sound, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks a barbarian for me. 12 Thus ye also, since ye are desirous of spirits, seek that ye may abound for the edification of the assembly. 13 Wherefore let him that speaks with a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray with a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing also with the understanding. 16 Since otherwise, if thou blessest with [the] spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the simple [Christian] say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, since he does not know what thou sayest? 17 For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank God I speak in a tongue more than all of you: 19 but in [the] assembly I desire to speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also, [rather] than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brethren, be not children in [your] minds, but in malice be babes; but in [your] minds be grown [men].
(Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-5)
Prophesying, that is, explaining Scripture, is compared with speaking with tongues. This drew attention, more than the plain interpretation of Scripture; it gratified pride more, but promoted the purposes of Christian charity less; it would not equally do good to the souls of men. What cannot be understood, never can edify. No advantage can be reaped from the most excellent discourses, if delivered in language such as the hearers cannot speak or understand. Every ability or possession is valuable in proportion to its usefulness. Even fervent, spiritual affection must be governed by the exercise of the understanding, else men will disgrace the truths they profess to promote.
(Read 1 Corinthians 14:6-14)
Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to be understood by his hearers. To speak words that have no meaning to those who hear them, is but speaking into the air. That cannot answer the end of speaking, which has no meaning; in this case, speaker and hearers are barbarians to each other. All religious services should be so performed in Christian assemblies, that all may join in, and profit by them. Language plain and easy to be understood, is the most proper for public worship, and other religious exercises. Every true follower of Christ will rather desire to do good to others, than to get a name for learning or fine speaking.
(Read 1 Corinthians 14:15-25)
There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is a proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did who delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the great truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person might become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly taught, has a wonderful power to awaken the conscience and touch the heart.
