1161 I love Yahweh, because he listens to my voice,
and my cries for mercy. 2 Because he has turned his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The cords of death surrounded me,
the pains of Sheol got a hold of me.
I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of Yahweh:
“Yahweh, I beg you, deliver my soul.” 5 Yahweh is Gracious and righteous.
Yes, our God is merciful. 6 Yahweh preserves the simple.
I was brought low, and he saved me. 7 Return to your rest, my soul,
for Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before Yahweh in the land of the living.
10 I believed, therefore I said,
“I was greatly afflicted.” 11 I said in my haste,
“All men are liars.” 12 What will I give to Yahweh for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of Yahweh. 14 I will pay my vows to Yahweh,
yes, in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints. 16 Yahweh, truly I am your servant.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid.
You have freed me from my chains. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and will call on the name of Yahweh. 18 I will pay my vows to Yahweh,
yes, in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of Yahweh’s house,
in the midst of you, Jerusalem.
Praise Yah!
1171 Praise Yahweh, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples! 2 For his loving kindness is great toward us.
Yahweh’s faithfulness endures forever.
Praise Yah!
1181 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever. 2 Let Israel now say
that his loving kindness endures forever. 3 Let the house of Aaron now say
that his loving kindness endures forever. 4 Now let those who fear Yahweh say
that his loving kindness endures forever. 5 Out of my distress, I called on Yah.
Yah answered me with freedom. 6 Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me? 7 Yahweh is on my side among those who help me.
Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh,
than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh,
than to put confidence in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of Yahweh, I cut them off. 11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me.
In the name of Yahweh I indeed cut them off. 12 They surrounded me like bees.
They are quenched like the burning thorns.
In the name of Yahweh I cut them off. 13 You pushed me back hard, to make me fall,
but Yahweh helped me. 14 Yah is my strength and song.
He has become my salvation. 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous.
“The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly. 16 The right hand of Yahweh is exalted!
The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!” 17 I will not die, but live,
and declare Yah’s works. 18 Yah has punished me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness.
I will enter into them.
I will give thanks to Yah. 20 This is the gate of Yahweh;
the righteous will enter into it. 21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me,
and have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. 23 This is Yahweh’s doing.
It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that Yahweh has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it! 25 Save us now, we beg you, Yahweh!
Yahweh, we beg you, send prosperity now. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh!
We have blessed you out of the house of Yahweh. 27 Yahweh is God, and he has given us light.
Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you.
You are my God, I will exalt you. 29 Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever.
71 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife. 5 Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. 7 Yet I wish that all men were like me. However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind. 8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am. 9 But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn.
10 But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husband 11 (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife. 12 But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her. 13 The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies. 18 Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
(Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-9)
The apostle tells the Corinthians that it was good, in that juncture of time, for Christians to keep themselves single. Yet he says that marriage, and the comforts of that state, are settled by Divine wisdom. Though none may break the law of God, yet that perfect rule leaves men at liberty to serve him in the way most suited to their powers and circumstances, of which others often are very unfit judges. All must determine for themselves, seeking counsel from God how they ought to act.
(Read 1 Corinthians 7:10-16)
Man and wife must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles, on very slight pretexts. Marriage is a Divine institution; and is an engagement for life, by God's appointment. We are bound, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, Romans 12:18, therefore to promote the peace and comfort of our nearest relatives, though unbelievers. It should be the labour and study of those who are married, to make each other as easy and happy as possible. Should a Christian desert a husband or wife, when there is opportunity to give the greatest proof of love? Stay, and labour heartily for the conversion of thy relative. In every state and relation the Lord has called us to peace; and every thing should be done to promote harmony, as far as truth and holiness will permit.
(Read 1 Corinthians 7:17-24)
The rules of Christianity reach every condition; and in every state a man may live so as to be a credit to it. It is the duty of every Christian to be content with his lot, and to conduct himself in his rank and place as becomes a Christian. Our comfort and happiness depend on what we are to Christ, not what we are in the world. No man should think to make his faith or religion, an argument to break through any natural or civil obligations. He should quietly and contentedly abide in the condition in which he is placed by Divine Providence.
