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

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Psalms 119:1-88

1 Happy are those who live pure lives, who follow the Lord's teachings.

2 Happy are those who keep his rules, who try to obey him with their whole heart.

3 They don't do what is wrong; they follow his ways.

4 Lord, you gave your orders to be obeyed completely.

5 I wish I were more loyal in obeying your demands.

6 Then I would not be ashamed when I study your commands.

7 When I learned that your laws are fair, I praised you with an honest heart.

8 I will obey your demands, so please don't ever leave me.

9 How can a young person live a pure life? By obeying your word.

10 With all my heart I try to obey you. Don't let me break your commands.

11 I have taken your words to heart so I would not sin against you.

12 Lord, you should be praised. Teach me your demands.

13 My lips will tell about all the laws you have spoken.

14 I enjoy living by your rules as people enjoy great riches.

15 I think about your orders and study your ways.

16 I enjoy obeying your demands, and I will not forget your word.

17 Do good to me, your servant, so I can live, so I can obey your word.

18 Open my eyes to see the miracles in your teachings.

19 I am a stranger on earth. Do not hide your commands from me.

20 I wear myself out with desire for your laws all the time.

21 You scold proud people; those who ignore your commands are cursed.

22 Don't let me be insulted and hated because I keep your rules.

23 Even if princes speak against me, I, your servant, will think about your demands.

24 Your rules give me pleasure; they give me good advice.

25 I am about to die. Give me life, as you have promised.

26 I told you about my life, and you answered me. Teach me your demands.

27 Help me understand your orders. Then I will think about your miracles.

28 I am sad and tired. Make me strong again as you have promised.

29 Don't let me be dishonest; have mercy on me by helping me obey your teachings.

30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have obeyed your laws.

31 I hold on to your rules. Lord, do not let me be disgraced.

32 I will quickly obey your commands, because you have made me happy.

33 Lord, teach me your demands, and I will keep them until the end.

34 Help me understand, so I can keep your teachings, obeying them with all my heart.

35 Lead me in the path of your commands, because that makes me happy.

36 Make me want to keep your rules instead of wishing for riches.

37 Keep me from looking at worthless things. Let me live by your word.

38 Keep your promise to me, your servant, so you will be respected.

39 Take away the shame I fear, because your laws are good.

40 How I want to follow your orders. Give me life because of your goodness.

41 Lord, show me your love, and save me as you have promised.

42 I have an answer for people who insult me, because I trust what you say.

43 Never keep me from speaking your truth, because I depend on your fair laws.

44 I will obey your teachings forever and ever.

45 So I will live in freedom, because I want to follow your orders.

46 I will discuss your rules with kings and will not be ashamed.

47 I enjoy obeying your commands, which I love.

48 I praise your commands, which I love, and I think about your demands.

49 Remember your promise to me, your servant; it gives me hope.

50 When I suffer, this comforts me: Your promise gives me life.

51 Proud people always make fun of me, but I do not reject your teachings.

52 I remember your laws from long ago, and they comfort me, Lord.

53 I become angry with wicked people who do not keep your teachings.

54 I sing about your demands wherever I live.

55 Lord, I remember you at night, and I will obey your teachings.

56 This is what I do: I follow your orders.

57 Lord, you are my share in life; I have promised to obey your words.

58 I prayed to you with all my heart. Have mercy on me as you have promised.

59 I thought about my life, and I decided to follow your rules.

60 I hurried and did not wait to obey your commands.

61 Wicked people have tied me up, but I have not forgotten your teachings.

62 In the middle of the night, I get up to thank you because your laws are right.

63 I am a friend to everyone who fears you, to anyone who obeys your orders.

64 Lord, your love fills the earth. Teach me your demands.

65 You have done good things for your servant, as you have promised, Lord.

66 Teach me wisdom and knowledge because I trust your commands.

67 Before I suffered, I did wrong, but now I obey your word.

68 You are good, and you do what is good. Teach me your demands.

69 Proud people have made up lies about me, but I will follow your orders with all my heart.

70 Those people have no feelings, but I love your teachings.

71 It was good for me to suffer so I would learn your demands.

72 Your teachings are worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

73 You made me and formed me with your hands. Give me understanding so I can learn your commands.

74 Let those who respect you rejoice when they see me, because I put my hope in your word.

75 Lord, I know that your laws are right and that it was right for you to punish me.

76 Comfort me with your love, as you promised me, your servant.

77 Have mercy on me so that I may live. I love your teachings.

78 Make proud people ashamed because they lied about me. But I will think about your orders.

79 Let those who respect you return to me, those who know your rules.

80 Let me obey your demands perfectly so I will not be ashamed.

81 I am weak from waiting for you to save me, but I hope in your word.

82 My eyes are tired from looking for your promise. When will you comfort me?

83 Even though I am like a wine bag going up in smoke, I do not forget your demands.

84 How long will I live? When will you judge those who are hurting me?

85 Proud people have dug pits to trap me. They have nothing to do with your teachings.

86 All of your commands can be trusted. Liars are hurting me. Help me!

87 They have almost put me in the grave, but I have not rejected your orders.

88 Give me life by your love so I can obey your rules.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 Corinthians 7:20-40

20 Each one of you should stay the way you were when God called you.

21 If you were a slave when God called you, do not let that bother you. But if you can be free, then make good use of your freedom.

22 Those who were slaves when the Lord called them are free persons who belong to the Lord. In the same way, those who were free when they were called are now Christ's slaves.

23 You all were bought at a great price, so do not become slaves of people.

24 Brothers and sisters, each of you should stay as you were when you were called, and stay there with God.

25 Now I write about people who are not married. I have no command from the Lord about this; I give my opinion. But I can be trusted, because the Lord has shown me mercy.

26 The present time is a time of trouble, so I think it is good for you to stay the way you are.

27 If you have a wife, do not try to become free from her. If you are not married, do not try to find a wife.

28 But if you decide to marry, you have not sinned. And if a girl who has never married decides to marry, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have trouble in this life, and I want you to be free from trouble.

29 Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: We do not have much time left. So starting now, those who have wives should live as if they had no wives.

30 Those who are crying should live as if they were not crying. Those who are happy should live as if they were not happy. Those who buy things should live as if they own nothing.

31 Those who use the things of the world should live as if they were not using them, because this world in its present form will soon be gone.

32 I want you to be free from worry. A man who is not married is busy with the Lord's work, trying to please the Lord.

33 But a man who is married is busy with things of the world, trying to please his wife.

34 He must think about two things -- pleasing his wife and pleasing the Lord. A woman who is not married or a girl who has never married is busy with the Lord's work. She wants to be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is busy with things of the world, as to how she can please her husband.

35 I am saying this to help you, not to limit you. But I want you to live in the right way, to give yourselves fully to the Lord without concern for other things.

36 If a man thinks he is not doing the right thing with the girl he is engaged to, if she is almost past the best age to marry and he feels he should marry her, he should do what he wants. They should get married. It is no sin.

37 But if a man is sure in his mind that there is no need for marriage, and has his own desires under control, and has decided not to marry the one to whom he is engaged, he is doing the right thing.

38 So the man who marries his girl does right, but the man who does not marry will do better.

39 A woman must stay with her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry any man she wants, but she must marry in the Lord.

40 The woman is happier if she does not marry again. This is my opinion, but I believe I also have God's Spirit.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.