PRAISE the LORD, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God; * yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
 
The LORD doth build up Jerusalem, * and gather together the outcasts of Israel.
 
He healeth those that are broken in heart, * and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
 
He telleth the number of the stars, * and calleth them all by their names.
 
Great is our Lord, and great is his power; * yea, and his wisdom is infinite.
 
The LORD setteth up the meek, * and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground.
 
O sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; * sing praises upon the harp unto our God:
 
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth; * and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for the use of men;
 
Who giveth fodder unto the cattle, * and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
 
He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse; * neither delighteth he in any man's legs.
 
But the LORD'S delight is in them that fear him, * and put their trust in his mercy.
 
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; * praise thy God, O Sion.
 
For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, * and hath blessed thy children within thee.
 
He maketh peace in thy borders, * and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
 
He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth, * and his word runneth very swiftly.
 
He giveth snow like wool, * and scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
 
He casteth forth his ice like morsels: * who is able to abide his frost?
 
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: * he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
 
He showeth his word unto Jacob, * his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
 
He hath not dealt so with any nation; * neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.

BLESSED are those that are undefiled in the way, * and walk in the law of the LORD.
 
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, * and seek him with their whole heart;
 
Even they who do no wickedness, * and walk in his ways.
 
Thou hast charged * that we shall diligently keep thy commandments.
 
O that my ways were made so direct, * that I might keep thy statutes!
 
So shall I not be confounded, * while I have respect unto all thy commandments.
 
I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart, * when I shall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness.
 
I will keep thy statutes; * O forsake me not utterly.
 

WHEREWITHAL shall a young man cleanse his way? * even by ruling himself after thy word.
 
With my whole heart have I sought thee; * O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments.
 
Thy word have I hid within my heart, * that I should not sin against thee.
 
Blessed art Thou, O LORD; * O teach me thy statutes.
 
With my lips have I been telling * of all the judgments of thy mouth.
 
I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, * as in all manner of riches.
 
I will talk of thy commandments, * and have respect unto thy ways.
 
My delight shall be in thy statutes, * and I will not forget thy word.
 

O DO well unto thy servant; * that I may live, and keep thy word.
 
Open thou mine eyes; * that I may see the wondrous things of thy law.
 
I am a stranger upon earth; * O hide not thy commandments from me.
 
My soul breaketh out for the very fervent desire * that it hath alway unto thy judgments.
 
Thou hast rebuked the proud; * and cursed are they that do err from thy commandments.
 
O turn from me shame and rebuke; * for I have kept thy testimonies.
 
Princes also did sit and speak against me; * but thy servant is occupied in thy statutes.
 
For thy testimonies are my delight, * and my counsellors.
 

MY soul cleaveth to the dust; * O quicken thou me, according to thy word.
 
I have acknowledged my ways, and thou heardest me: * O teach me thy statutes.
 
Make me to understand the way of thy commandments; * and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
 
My soul melteth away for very heaviness; * comfort thou me according unto thy word.
 
Take from me the way of lying, * and cause thou me to make much of thy law.
 
I have chosen the way of truth, * and thy judgments have I laid before me.
 
I have stuck unto thy testimonies; * O LORD, confound me not.
 
I will run the way of thy commandments, * when thou hast set my heart at liberty.
 

 
TEACH me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes, * and I shall keep it unto the end.
 
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; * yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.
 
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; * for therein is my desire.
 
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, * and not to covetousness.
 
O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity; * and quicken thou me in thy way.
 
O stablish thy word in thy servant, * that I may fear thee.
 
Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of; * for thy judgments are good.
 
Behold, my delight is in thy commandments; * O quicken me in thy righteousness.
 

LET thy loving mercy come also unto me, O LORD, * even thy salvation, according unto thy word.
 
So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers; * for my trust is in thy word.
 
O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth; * for my hope is in thy judgments.
 
So shall I alway keep thy law; * yea, for ever and ever.
 
And I will walk at liberty; * for I seek thy commandments.
 
I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings, * and will not be ashamed.
 
And my delight shall be in thy commandments, * which I have loved.
 
My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; * and my study shall be in thy statutes.

O THINK upon thy servant, as concerning thy word, * wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust.
 
The same is my comfort in my trouble; * for thy word hath quickened me.
 
The proud have had me exceedingly in derision; * yet have I not shrinked from thy law.
 
For I remembered thine everlasting judgments, O LORD, * and received comfort.
 
I am horribly afraid, * for the ungodly that forsake thy law.
 
Thy statutes have been my songs, * in the house of my pilgrimage.
 
I have thought upon thy Name, O LORD, in the night season, * and have kept thy law.
 
This I had, * because I kept thy commandments.
 

THOU art my portion, O LORD; * I have promised to keep thy law.
 
I made my humble petition in thy presence with my whole heart; * O be merciful unto me, according to thy word.
 
I called mine own ways to remembrance, * and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
 
I made haste, and prolonged not the time, * to keep thy commandments.
 
The snares of the ungodly have compassed me about; * but I have not forgotten thy law.
 
At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, * because of thy righteous judgments.
 
I am a companion of all them that fear thee, * and keep thy commandments.
 
The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: * O teach me thy statutes.
 

O LORD, thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant, * according unto thy word.
 
O teach me true understanding and knowledge; * for I have believed thy commandments.
 
Before I was troubled, I went wrong; * but now have I kept thy word.
 
Thou art good and gracious; * O teach me thy statutes.
 
The proud have imagined a lie against me; * but I will keep thy commandments with my whole heart.
 
Their heart is as fat as brawn; * but my delight hath been in thy law.
 
It is good for me that I have been in trouble; * that I may learn thy statutes.
 
The law of thy mouth is dearer unto me * than thousands of gold and silver.
 

THY hands have made me and fashioned me: * O give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
 
They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; * because I have put my trust in thy word.
 
I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, * and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled.
 
O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort, * according to thy word unto thy servant.
 
O let thy loving mercies come unto me, that I may live; * for thy law is my delight.
 
Let the proud be confounded, for they go wickedly about to destroy me; * but I will be occupied in thy commandments.
 
Let such as fear thee, and have known thy testimonies, * be turned unto me.
 
O let my heart be sound in thy statutes, * that I be not ashamed.
 

MY soul hath longed for thy salvation, * and I have a good hope because of thy word.
 
Mine eyes-long sore for thy word; * saying, O when wilt thou comfort me?
 
For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; * yet do I not forget thy statutes.
 
How many are the days of thy servant? * when wilt thou be avenged of them that persecute me?
 
The proud have digged pits for me, * which are not after thy law.
 
All thy commandments are true: * they persecute me falsely; O be thou my help.
 
They had almost made an end of me upon earth; * but I forsook not thy commandments.
 
O quicken me after thy loving-kindness; * and so shall I keep the testimonies of thy mouth.
 

O LORD, thy word * endureth for ever in heaven.
 
Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another; * thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
 
They continue this day according to thine ordinance; * for all things serve thee.
 
If my delight had not been in thy law, * I should have perished in my trouble.
 
I will never forget thy commandments; * for with them thou hast quickened me.
 
I am thine: O save me, * for I have sought thy commandments.
 
The ungodly laid wait for me, to destroy me; * but I will consider thy testimonies.
 
I see that all things come to an end; * but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
 

LORD, what love have I unto thy law! * all the day long is my study in it.
 
Thou, through thy commandments, hast made me wiser than mine enemies; * for they are ever with me.
 
I have more understanding than my teachers; * for thy testimonies are my study.
 
I am wiser than the aged; * because I keep thy commandments.
 
I have refrained my feet from every evil way, * that I may keep thy word.
 
I have not shrunk from thy judgments; * for thou teachest me.
 
O how sweet are thy words unto my throat; * yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth!
 
Through thy commandments I get understanding: * therefore I hate all evil ways.
 

THY word is a lantern unto my feet, * and a light unto my paths.
 
I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed, * to keep thy righteous judgments.
 
I am troubled above measure: * quicken me, O LORD, according to thy word.
 
Let the free-will offerings of my mouth please thee, O LORD; * and teach me thy judgments.
 
My soul is alway in my hand; * yet do I not forget thy law.
 
The ungodly have laid a snare for me; * but yet I swerved not from thy commandments.
 
Thy testimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever; * and why? they are the very joy of my heart.
 
I have applied my heart to fulfil thy statutes alway, * even unto the end.
 

I HATE them that imagine evil things; * but thy law do I love.
 
Thou art my defence and shield; * and my trust is in thy word.
 
Away from me, ye wicked; * I will keep the commandments of my God.
 
O stablish me according to thy word, that I may live; * and let me not be disappointed of my hope.
 
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe; * yea, my delight shall be ever in thy statutes.
 
Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from thy statutes; * for they imagine but deceit.
 
Thou puttest away all the ungodly of the earth like dross; * therefore I love thy testimonies.
 
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; * and I am afraid of thy judgments.
 

I DEAL with the thing that is lawful and right; * O give me not over unto mine oppressors.
 
Make thou thy servant to delight in that which is good, * that the proud do me no wrong.
 
Mine eyes are wasted away with looking for thy health, * and for the word of thy righteousness.
 
O deal with thy servant according unto thy loving mercy, * and teach me thy statutes.
 
I am thy servant; O grant me understanding, * that I may know thy testimonies.
 
It is time for thee, LORD, to lay to thine hand; * for they have destroyed thy law.
 
For I love thy commandments * above gold and precious stones.
 
Therefore hold I straight all thy commandments; * and all false ways I utterly abhor.
 

THY testimonies are wonderful; * therefore doth my soul keep them.
 
When thy word goeth forth, * it giveth light and understanding unto the simple.
 
I opened my mouth, and drew in my breath; * for my delight was in thy commandments.
 
O look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, * as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name.
 
Order my steps in thy word; * and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me.
 
O deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men; * and so shall I keep thy commandments.
 
Show the light of thy countenance upon thy servant, * and teach me thy statutes.
 
Mine eyes gush out with water, * because men keep not thy law.
 

RIGHTEOUS art thou, O LORD; * and true are thy judgments.
 
The testimonies that thou hast commanded * are exceeding righteous and true.
 
My zeal hath even consumed me; * because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
 
Thy word is tried to the uttermost, * and thy servant loveth it.
 
I am small and of no reputation; * yet do I not forget thy commandments.
 
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, * and thy law is the truth.
 
Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me; * yet is my delight in thy commandments.
 
The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: * O grant me understanding, and I shall live.
 

I CALL with my whole heart; * hear me, O LORD; I will keep thy statutes.
 
Yea, even unto thee do I call; * help me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
 
Early in the morning do I cry unto thee; * for in thy word is my trust.
 
Mine eyes prevent the night watches; * that I might be occupied in thy word.
 
Hear my voice, O LORD, according unto thy loving-kindness; * quicken me, according to thy judgments.
 
They draw nigh that of malice persecute me, * and are far from thy law.
 
Be thou nigh at hand, O LORD; * for all thy commandments are true.
 
As concerning thy testimonies, I have known long since, * that thou hast grounded them for ever.
 

O CONSIDER mine adversity, and deliver me, * for I do not forget thy law.
 
Avenge thou my cause, and deliver me; * quicken me according to thy word.
 
Health is far from the ungodly; * for they regard not thy statutes.
 
Great is thy mercy, O LORD; * quicken me, as thou art wont.
 
Many there are that trouble me, and persecute me; * yet do I not swerve from thy testimonies.
 
It grieveth me when I see the transgressors; * because they keep not thy law.
 
Consider, O LORD, how I love thy commandments; * O quicken me, according to thy loving- kindness.
 
Thy word is true from everlasting; * all the judgments of thy righteousness endure for evermore.
 

PRINCES have persecuted me without a cause; * but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
 
I am as glad of thy word, * as one that findeth great spoils.
 
As for lies, I hate and abhor them; * but thy law do I love.
 
Seven times a day do I praise thee; * because of thy righteous judgments.
 
Great is the peace that they have who love thy law; * and they have none occasion of stumbling.
 
LORD, I have looked for thy saving health, * and done after thy commandments.
 
My soul hath kept thy testimonies, * and loved them exceedingly.
 
I have kept thy commandments and testimonies; * for all my ways are before thee.
 

LET my complaint come before thee, O LORD; * give me understanding according to thy word.
 
Let my supplication come before thee; * deliver me according to thy word.
 
My lips shall speak of thy praise, * when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
 
Yea, my tongue shall sing of thy word; * for all thy commandments are righteous.
 
Let thine hand help me; * for I have chosen thy commandments.
 
I have longed for thy saving health, O LORD; * and in thy law is my delight.
 
O let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; * and thy judgments shall help me.
 
I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; * O seek thy servant, for I do not forget thy commandments.

O LORD, thou hast searched me out, and known me. * Thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine uprising; thou understandest my thoughts long before.
 
Thou art about my path, and about my bed; * and art acquainted with all my ways.
 
For lo, there is not a word in my tongue, * but thou, O LORD, knowest it altogether.
 
Thou hast beset me behind and before, * and laid thine hand upon me.
 
Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me; * I cannot attain unto it.
 
Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit? * or whither shall I go then from thy presence?
 
If I climb up into heaven, thou art there; * if I go down to hell, thou art there also.
 
If I take the wings of the morning, * and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;
 
Even there also shall thy hand lead me, * and thy right hand shall hold me.
 
If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me; * then shall my night be turned to day.
 
Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day; * the darkness and light to thee are both alike.
 
For my reins are thine; * thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
 
I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: * marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.
 
My bones are not hid from thee, * though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth.
 
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; * and in thy book were all my members written;
 
Which day by day were fashioned, * when as yet there was none of them.
 
How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God; * O how great is the sum of them!
 
If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand: * when I wake up, I am present with thee.
 
Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God? * Depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men.
 
For they speak unrighteously against thee; * and thine enemies take thy Name in vain.
 
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? * and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
 
Yea, I hate them right sore; * even as though they were mine enemies.
 
Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart; * prove me, and examine my thoughts.
 
Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me; * and lead me in the way everlasting.

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day.

And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, (I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word of the Lord: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying, I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods before me. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Neither shalt thou commit adultery. Neither shalt thou steal. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

LORD, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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