Tell of All His Wondrous Works
1 sOh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
3 tGlory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord urejoice!
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
vseek his presence continually!
5 wRemember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
children of Jacob, xhis chosen ones!
7 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He yremembers his covenant zforever,
the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
9 athe covenant that he made with Abraham,
bhis sworn promise to Isaac,
10 which he cconfirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
11 saying, “To you I will give the dland of Canaan
as your portion for an inheritance.”
12 When they were few in number,
of little account, and sojourners in it,
13 wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people,
14 ehe allowed no one to oppress them;
fhe rebuked kings on their account,
15 saying, g“Touch not my anointed ones,
do my prophets no harm!”
16 When he hsummoned a famine on the land
and broke all supply1 of bread,
17 ihe had sent a man ahead of them,
Joseph, who was jsold as a slave.
18 kHis feet were hurt with fetters;
his neck was put in a collar of iron;
19 luntil what he had said came to pass,
the word of the Lord tested him.
20 mThe king sent and released him;
the ruler of the peoples set him free;
21 nhe made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions,
22 oto bind2 his princes at his pleasure
and to teach his elders wisdom.
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.
Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
6 For vaffliction does not come from the dust,
nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
7 but man is wborn to trouble
as the sparks fly upward.
8 “As for me, I would seek God,
and to God would I commit my cause,
9 who does great things and xunsearchable,
marvelous things without number:
10 yhe gives rain on the earth
and sends waters on the fields;
11 zhe sets on high those who are lowly,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 aHe frustrates the devices of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
13 bHe catches the wise in their own craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime
and cgrope at noonday as in the night.
15 But he dsaves the needy from the sword of their mouth
and from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor have hope,
and einjustice shuts her mouth.
17 “Behold, fblessed is the one whom God reproves;
therefore gdespise not the discipline of the Almighty.
18 For hhe wounds, but he binds up;
he shatters, but his hands heal.
19 He will deliver you from isix troubles;
in seven no evil1 shall touch you.
20 jIn famine he will redeem you from death,
and in war from the power of the sword.
21 You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue,
and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh,
and kshall not fear the beasts of the earth.
23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,
and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
24 You shall know that your tent is at peace,
and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
25 You shall know also that your offspring shall be many,
and your descendants las the grass of the earth.
26 mYou shall come to your grave in ripe old age,
like a sheaf gathered up in its season.
27 Behold, this we have searched out; it is true.
Hear, and know it for your good.”2
Shepherd the Flock of God
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a ywitness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the zflock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,1 anot under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;2 not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 bnot domineering over those in your charge, but being cexamples to the flock. 4 And dwhen the chief eShepherd appears, you will receive the unfading fcrown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. gClothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for h“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 icasting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 jBe sober-minded; kbe watchful. Your adversary the devil lprowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 mResist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your nbrotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have osuffered a little while, the God of all grace, pwho has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 qTo him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
