Psalm 119:89–176; 1 Corinthians 8

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Psalm 119:89–176

Lamedh

89  Forever, O Lord, zyour word

is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90  Your faithfulness endures to all generations;

ayou have established the earth, and it stands fast.

91  By your appointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

92  bIf your law had not been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93  I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have given me life.

94  I am yours; csave me,

for I have sought your precepts.

95  The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

but I consider your testimonies.

96  I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Mem

97  Oh how I love your law!

It is my meditation all the day.

98  Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

99  I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for your testimonies are my meditation.

100  I understand more than the aged,1

for I keep your precepts.

101  I dhold back my feet from every evil way,

in order to keep your word.

102  I do not eturn aside from your rules,

for you have taught me.

103  How sweet are your words to my taste,

fsweeter than honey to my mouth!

104  Through your precepts I get understanding;

therefore I ghate every false way.

Nun

105  Your word is a hlamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

106  I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,

to keep your righteous rules.

107  I am severely afflicted;

give me life, O Lord, iaccording to your word!

108  Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and teach me your rules.

109  I hold my life in my hand continually,

but I do not forget your law.

110  The wicked have laid a snare for me,

but I do not stray from your precepts.

111  Your testimonies are my jheritage forever,

for they are the kjoy of my heart.

112  I lincline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, to the end.2

Samekh

113  mI hate the double-minded,

but I love your law.

114  You are my nhiding place and my oshield;

I hope in your word.

115  pDepart from me, you evildoers,

that I may qkeep the commandments of my God.

116  Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,

and rlet me not be put to shame sin my thope!

117  Hold me up, that I may be safe

and have regard for your statutes continually!

118  You spurn all who ugo astray from your statutes,

for their cunning is in vain.

119  All the wicked of the earth you discard like vdross,

therefore I love your testimonies.

120  My flesh trembles for fear of you,

and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

121  I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122  Give your servant a pledge of good;

let not the insolent oppress me.

123  My weyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

124  Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and teach me your statutes.

125  I am your servant; give me understanding,

that I may know your testimonies!

126  It is time for the Lord to act,

for your law has been broken.

127  Therefore I love your commandments

above xgold, above fine gold.

128  Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;

I hate every false way.

Pe

129  Your testimonies are ywonderful;

therefore my soul keeps them.

130  The unfolding of your words gives light;

it zimparts understanding to the simple.

131  I open my mouth and pant,

because I along for your commandments.

132  bTurn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

133  Keep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity get cdominion over me.

134  Redeem me from man’s doppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

135  eMake your face shine upon your servant,

and teach me your statutes.

136  fMy eyes shed streams of tears,

because people do not keep your law.

Tsadhe

137  Righteous are you, O Lord,

and right are your rules.

138  You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness

and in all faithfulness.

139  My zeal consumes me,

because my foes forget your words.

140  gYour promise is well tried,

and your servant loves it.

141  I am small and despised,

yet I do not forget your precepts.

142  Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and your law is htrue.

143  Trouble and anguish have found me out,

but your commandments are my delight.

144  Your testimonies are righteous forever;

give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph

145  With my whole heart I cry; ianswer me, O Lord!

I will jkeep your statutes.

146  I call to you; ksave me,

that I may lobserve your testimonies.

147  I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I hope in your words.

148  My eyes are awake before the mwatches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promise.

149  Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O Lord, according to your justice give me life.

150  They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

151  But you are nnear, O Lord,

and all your commandments are true.

152  Long have I known from your testimonies

that you have founded them oforever.

Resh

153  Look on my affliction and deliver me,

for I do not forget your law.

154  pPlead my cause and redeem me;

give me life according to your promise!

155  qSalvation is far from the wicked,

for they do not seek your statutes.

156  rGreat is your mercy, O Lord;

give me life according to your rules.

157  Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,

but I do not swerve from your testimonies.

158  I look at the faithless with disgust,

because they do not keep your commands.

159  Consider how I love your precepts!

Give me life, O Lord, according to your steadfast love.

160  The sum of your word is truth,

and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

161  sPrinces persecute me without cause,

but my heart stands in awe of your words.

162  I trejoice at your word

like one who finds great spoil.

163  I hate and abhor falsehood,

but I love your law.

164  Seven times a day I praise you

for your righteous rules.

165  Great upeace have those who love your law;

nothing can make them stumble.

166  vI hope for your salvation, O Lord,

and I do your commandments.

167  My soul keeps your testimonies;

I love them exceedingly.

168  I keep your precepts and testimonies,

for wall my ways are before you.

Taw

169  Let my cry come before you, O Lord;

give me understanding xaccording to your word!

170  Let my plea come before you;

deliver me according to your word.

171  My ylips will zpour forth praise,

for you teach me your statutes.

172  My tongue will sing of your word,

for all your commandments are right.

173  Let your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen your precepts.

174  I along for your salvation, O Lord,

and your law is my delight.

175  Let my soul live and praise you,

and let your rules help me.

176  I have gone astray like a blost sheep; cseek your servant,

for dI do not forget your commandments.


1 Corinthians 8

Food Offered to Idols

1 oNow concerning1 pfood offered to qidols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” rpuffs up, but love sbuilds up. 2 tIf anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is uknown by God.2

4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that v“an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but wone.” 5 For although there may be xso-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, yfrom whom are all things and for whom we exist, and zone Lord, Jesus Christ, athrough whom are all things and through whom we exist.

7 bHowever, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being cweak, is defiled. 8 dFood will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But etake care that this right of yours does not somehow become a fstumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating3 in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,4 if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 gAnd so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers5 and wounding their conscience when it is weak, hyou sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.