Restore Our Fortunes, O Lord
A Song of mAscents.
1 When the Lord srestored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who tdream.
2 Then our umouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
v“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 wThose who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
Unless the Lord Builds the House
A Song of mAscents. Of Solomon.
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord xwatches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious ytoil;
3 Behold, bchildren are a heritage from the Lord,
cthe fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of da warrior
are the children1 of one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord
A Song of mAscents.
1 fBlessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who gwalks in his ways!
2 You hshall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like ia fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like jolive shoots
around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.
5 kThe Lord bless you lfrom Zion!
May you see mthe prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
6 May you see your nchildren’s children!
oPeace be upon Israel!
19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that fan idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice gthey offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 hYou cannot drink the cup of the Lord and ithe cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and jthe table of demons. 22 kShall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? lAre we stronger than he?
Do All to the Glory of God
23 m“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 nLet no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 oEat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For p“the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, qeat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean ryour conscience, but his. For swhy should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that tfor which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or uwhatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 vGive no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to wthe church of God, 33 just as xI try to please everyone in everything I do, ynot seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.