Psalms 119:1-88; 1 Corinthians 7:20-40

Psalms 119:1-88

1 Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.

2 Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart,

3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways.

4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.

5 O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous ordinances.

8 I will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.

9 How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

10 With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments.

11 I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.

12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes.

13 With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth.

14 I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways.

16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

17 Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word.

18 Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

19 I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me.

20 My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.

21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments;

22 take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept your decrees.

23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.

24 Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.

25 My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word.

26 When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes.

27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

28 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

29 Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law.

30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me.

31 I cling to your decrees, O Lord; let me not be put to shame.

32 I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding.

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

36 Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.

37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.

38 Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.

39 Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.

40 See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life.

41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.

42 Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.

43 Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your ordinances.

44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever.

45 I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts.

46 I will also speak of your decrees before kings, and shall not be put to shame;

47 I find my delight in your commandments, because I love them.

48 I revere your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

49 Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.

50 This is my comfort in my distress, that your promise gives me life.

51 The arrogant utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.

52 When I think of your ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.

53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, those who forsake your law.

54 Your statutes have been my songs wherever I make my home.

55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law.

56 This blessing has fallen to me, for I have kept your precepts.

57 The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.

58 I implore your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

59 When I think of your ways, I turn my feet to your decrees;

60 I hurry and do not delay to keep your commandments.

61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.

62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous ordinances.

63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.

64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes.

65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

67 Before I was humbled I went astray, but now I keep your word.

68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

69 The arrogant smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts.

70 Their hearts are fat and gross, but I delight in your law.

71 It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes.

72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.

75 I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.

76 Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.

77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.

78 Let the arrogant be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

79 Let those who fear you turn to me, so that they may know your decrees.

80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame.

81 My soul languishes for your salvation; I hope in your word.

82 My eyes fail with watching for your promise; I ask, "When will you comfort me?"

83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

84 How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?

85 The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me; they flout your law.

86 All your commandments are enduring; I am persecuted without cause; help me!

87 They have almost made an end of me on earth; but I have not forsaken your precepts.

88 In your steadfast love spare my life, so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

1 Corinthians 7:20-40

20 Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.

21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever.

22 For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ.

23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters.

24 In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God.

25 Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

26 I think that, in view of the impending crisis, it is well for you to remain as you are.

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28 But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Yet those who marry will experience distress in this life, and I would spare you that.

29 I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none,

30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions,

31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord;

33 but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife,

34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband.

35 I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his fiancee, if his passions are strong, and so it has to be, let him marry as he wishes; it is no sin. Let them marry.

37 But if someone stands firm in his resolve, being under no necessity but having his own desire under control, and has determined in his own mind to keep her as his fiancee, he will do well.

38 So then, he who marries his fiancee does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better.

39 A wife is bound as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord.

40 But in my judgment she is more blessed if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.