The Law of the Lord Is Perfect
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 bThe cheavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above1 proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 dTheir voice2 goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 eThe law of the Lord is perfect,3
freviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is gsure,
hmaking wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules4 of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than igold,
even much fine gold;
jsweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from khidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from lpresumptuous sins;
let them not have mdominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14 nLet the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Paul and Barnabas at Lystra
8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was ucrippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,1 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he vsprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, w“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer xsacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should yturn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In zpast generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself awithout witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
Paul in Athens
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching yJesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this znew teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
Paul Addresses the Areopagus
22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the aunknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in btemples made by man,1 25 nor is he served by human hands, cas though he needed anything, since he himself dgives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made efrom one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having fdetermined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 gthat they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually hnot far from each one of us, 28 for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;2
as even some of iyour own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’3
29 Being then jGod’s offspring, we ought knot to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an limage formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The mtimes of ignorance God noverlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to orepent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness pby a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
32 Now when they heard of the qresurrection of the dead, some rmocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 kFor the lwrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and munrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For nwhat can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, ohave been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,1 in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but pthey became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, qthey became fools, 23 and rexchanged the glory of the immortal God for images sresembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse vor even excuse them
