Psalm 119:89–176

ל LAMEDH

89 Forever, O Lord, Your word

is established in heaven.

90 Your faithfulness is for all generations;

You have established the earth, and it is firm.

91 They continue this day according to Your ordinance,

for all are Your servants.

92 Unless Your law had been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93 I will never forget Your precepts,

for with them You have revived me.

94 I am Yours; deliver me,

for I have sought Your precepts.

95 The wicked have waited to destroy me,

but I will consider Your testimonies.

96 I have seen that all perfection has an end,

but Your commandment is quite broad.

מ MEM

97 Oh, how I love Your law!

It is my meditation all the day.

98 Your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies,

for they are continually with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for Your testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the elders,

because I keep Your precepts.

101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way,

that I might keep Your word.

102 I have not departed from Your judgments,

for You have taught me.

103 How sweet are Your words to the taste of my mouth!

Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through Your precepts I receive understanding;

therefore I hate every false way.

נ NUN

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

106 I have sworn, and I will perform it,

that I will keep Your righteous judgments.

107 I am greatly afflicted;

revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.

108 Accept the freewill offerings of my praise, O Lord,

and teach me Your judgments.

109 My soul is continually in my hand,

yet I do not forget Your law.

110 The wicked have laid a trap for me,

yet I do not depart from Your precepts.

111 Your testimonies are my inheritance forever,

for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes always,

even unto the end.

ס SAMEKH

113 I hate those who are double-minded,

but I love Your law.

114 You are my hiding place and my shield,

I hope in Your word.

115 Depart from me, you who are wicked,

for I keep the commandments of my God.

116 Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live,

and let me not be ashamed with my hope.

117 Hold me up, and I shall be safe,

and I will have respect for Your statutes continually.

118 You have rejected all those who stray from Your statutes,

for their deceit is falsehood.

119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross;

therefore I love Your testimonies.

120 My body trembles for fear of You,

and I am afraid of Your judgments.

ע AYIN

121 I have done what is right and just;

do not abandon me to my oppressors.

122 Be true to Your servant for good;

let not the proud ones oppress me.

123 My eyes long for Your deliverance

and for the promise of Your righteousness.

124 Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy,

and teach me Your statutes.

125 I am Your servant; grant me understanding,

that I may know Your testimonies.

126 It is time for You, O Lord, to act,

for they have broken Your law.

127 Therefore I love Your commandments

above gold, even fine gold.

128 For I follow all Your precepts to be right,

and I hate every false way.

פ PE

129 Your testimonies are wonderful;

therefore my soul keeps them.

130 The giving of Your words gives light;

it grants understanding to the simple.

131 I opened my mouth and panted,

for I long for Your commandments.

132 Look upon me, and be merciful to me,

as You are for those who love Your name.

133 Order my steps according to Your word,

and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me from the oppression of man,

so I will keep Your precepts.

135 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant,

and teach me Your statutes.

136 Rivers of waters run down my eyes,

because people do not keep Your law.

צ TSADHE

137 You are righteous, O Lord,

and upright are Your judgments.

138 You have set Your testimonies in righteousness

and faithfulness.

139 My zeal has consumed me,

because my enemies have forgotten Your words.

140 Your word is pure and true;

therefore Your servant loves it.

141 I am small and despised,

yet I do not forget Your precepts.

142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,

and Your law is true.

143 Trouble and anguish have discovered me,

but Your commandments are my delight.

144 The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting;

grant me understanding, and I shall live.

ק QOPH

145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord,

I will keep Your statutes.

146 I cried unto You; deliver me,

and I shall keep Your testimonies.

147 I arose before the dawn of the morning and cried for help;

I hope in Your words.

148 My eyes are awake before the night watches,

that I might meditate on Your word.

149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness, O Lord;

revive me according to Your judgment.

150 They draw close, those who persecute me with evil;

they are far from Your law.

151 But You are near, O Lord,

and all Your commandments are true.

152 I have known of old

that You have established Your testimonies forever.

ר RESH

153 Consider my affliction, and deliver me,

for I do not forget Your law.

154 Plead my cause, and defend me;

revive me according to Your word.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked,

for they do not seek Your statutes.

156 Great are Your compassions, O Lord;

revive me according to Your judgments.

157 Many are my persecutors and my enemies,

yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.

158 I behold the transgressors with disgust,

because they have not kept Your word.

159 Consider how I love Your precepts;

revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.

160 Your word is true from the beginning,

and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

ש SIN AND SHIN

161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause,

but my heart stands in awe of Your words.

162 I rejoice at Your word,

as one who finds great plunder.

163 I hate and abhor lying,

but I love Your law.

164 Seven times a day I praise You,

because of Your righteous judgments.

165 Those who love Your law have great peace,

and nothing shall cause them to stumble.

166 Lord, I have hoped for Your deliverance,

and I carry out Your commandments.

167 My soul has kept Your testimonies,

and I love them greatly.

168 I have kept Your precepts and Your testimonies,

for all my ways are before You.

ת TAW

169 Let my cry come near before You, O Lord;

give me understanding according to Your word.

170 Let my supplication come before You;

deliver me according to Your word.

171 My lips shall declare praise,

for You have taught me Your statutes.

172 My tongue shall speak of Your word,

for all Your commandments are right.

173 Let Your hand help me,

for I have chosen Your precepts.

174 I have longed for Your salvation, O Lord,

and Your law is my delight.

175 Let my soul live and praise You,

and let Your judgments come to my aid.

176 I have wandered like a lost sheep;

seek Your servant,

for I do not forget Your commandments.

1 Corinthians 8

1 Now as concerning food offered to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge produces arrogance, but love edifies. 2 So if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

4 So concerning the eating of foods that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For there are those who are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there are many gods and many lords. 6 But for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist. And there is one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

7 However, not everyone has this knowledge. Some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat the food as a thing offered to an idol. So their weak conscience is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God. Neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

9 But take heed, lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you, who have knowledge, eating in the idol’s temple, shall the conscience of him who is weak not be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols, 11 and by your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 When you thus sin against the brothers, wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to stumble.