Psalms 107; Psalms 108; Psalms 109; 1 Corinthians 4

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Psalms 107

1 Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good. His faithful love continues forever.

2 That's what those who have been set free by the LORD should say. He set them free from the power of the enemy.

3 He brought them back from other lands. He brought them back from east and west, from north and south.

4 Some of them wandered in deserts that were dry and empty. They couldn't find their way to a city where they could settle down.

5 They were hungry and thirsty. Their lives were slipping away.

6 Then they cried out to the LORD because of their problems. And he saved them from their troubles.

7 He led them straight to a city where they could settle down.

8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love. Let them give thanks for the miracles he does for his people.

9 He gives those who are thirsty all of the water they want. He gives those who are hungry all of the good food they can eat.

10 Others lived in the deepest darkness. They suffered as prisoners in iron chains.

11 That's because they hadn't obeyed the words of God. They had refused to follow the advice of the Most High God.

12 So he made them do work that was hard and bitter. They tripped and fell, and there was no one to help them.

13 Then they cried out to the LORD because of their problems. And he saved them from their troubles.

14 He brought them out of the deepest darkness. He broke their chains off.

15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love. Let them give thanks for the miracles he does for his people.

16 He breaks down gates that are made of bronze. He cuts through bars that are made of iron.

17 Others were foolish. They suffered because of their sins. They suffered because they wouldn't obey the Lord.

18 They refused to eat anything. They came close to passing through the gates of death.

19 Then they cried out to the LORD because of their problems. And he saved them from their troubles.

20 He gave his command and healed them. He saved them from the grave.

21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love. Let them give thanks for the miracles he does for his people.

22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings. Let them talk about what he has done as they sing with joy.

23 Others sailed out on the ocean in ships. They traded goods on the mighty waters.

24 They saw the works of the Lord. They saw the miracles he did on the ocean.

25 He spoke and stirred up a storm. It lifted the waves high.

26 They rose up to the heavens. Then they went down deep into the ocean. In that kind of danger the people's boldness melted away.

27 They were unsteady like those who get drunk. They didn't know what to do.

28 Then they cried out to the LORD because of their problems. And he brought them out of their troubles.

29 He made the storm as quiet as a whisper. The waves of the ocean calmed down.

30 The people were glad when the ocean became calm. Then he guided them to the harbor they were looking for.

31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love. Let them give thanks for the miracles he does for his people.

32 Let them honor him among his people who gather for worship. Let them praise him in the meeting of the elders.

33 He turned rivers into a desert. He turned flowing springs into thirsty ground.

34 He turned land that produced crops into a salty land where nothing could grow. He did it because the people who lived there were evil.

35 He turned the desert into pools of water. He turned the dry and cracked ground into flowing springs.

36 He brought hungry people there to live. They built a city where they could settle down.

37 They planted fields and vineyards that produced large crops.

38 He blessed the people, and they greatly increased their numbers. He kept their herds from getting smaller.

39 Then the number of God's people got smaller. They were brought low by trouble, suffering and sorrow.

40 The One who looks down on proud nobles made them wander in a desert where no one lives.

41 But he lifted needy people out of their suffering. He made their families increase like flocks of sheep.

42 Honest people see it and are filled with joy. But no one who is evil has anything to say.

43 Let those who are wise pay attention to these things. Let them think about the LORD's great love.

Psalms 108

1 God, my heart feels secure. I will sing and make music to you with all my heart.

2 Harp and lyre, wake up! I want to sing and make music before the sun rises.

3 Lord, I will praise you among the nations. I will sing about you among the people of the earth.

4 Great is your love. It is higher than the heavens. Your truth reaches to the skies.

5 God, may you be honored above the heavens. Let your glory be over the whole earth.

6 Save us. Help us with your powerful right hand, so that those you love may be saved.

7 God has spoken from his temple. He has said, "I will win the battle. Then I will divide up the land around Shechem. I will divide up the Valley of Succoth.

8 Gilead belongs to me. So does the land of Manasseh. Ephraim is the strongest tribe. It is like a helmet for my head. Judah is the royal tribe. It is like a ruler's staff.

9 Moab serves me like one who washes my feet. I toss my sandal on Edom to show that I own it. I shout to Philistia that I have won the battle."

10 Who will bring me to the city that has high walls around it? Who will lead me to the land of Edom?

11 God, isn't it you, even though you have now turned away from us? Isn't it you, even though you don't lead our armies into battle anymore?

12 Help us against our enemies. The help people give doesn't amount to anything.

13 With your help we will win the battle. You will walk all over our enemies.

Psalms 109

1 God, I praise you. Don't remain silent.

2 Sinful people who lie and cheat have spoken against me. They have used their tongues to tell lies about me.

3 They gather all around me with their words of hatred. They attack me without any reason.

4 They bring charges against me, even though I love them and pray for them.

5 They pay me back with evil for the good things I do. They pay back my love with hatred.

6 Appoint an evil person to take my enemies to court. Let him stand at their right hand and bring charges against them.

7 When they are tried, let them be found guilty. May even their prayers judge them.

8 May their days be few. Let others take their places as leaders.

9 May their children's fathers die. May their wives become widows.

10 May their children be driven from their destroyed homes. May they wander around like beggars.

11 May everything those people own be taken away to pay for what they owe. May strangers rob them of everything they've worked for.

12 May no one be kind to them or take pity on the children they leave behind.

13 May their family line come to an end. May their names be forgotten by those who live after them.

14 May the LORD remember the evil things their fathers have done. May he never erase the sins of their mothers.

15 May the LORD never forget their sins. Then he won't let people remember those sinners anymore.

16 They never thought about doing anything kind. Instead, they drove those who were poor and needy to their deaths. They did the same thing to those whose hearts were broken.

17 They loved to call down curses on others. May their curses come back on them. They didn't find any pleasure in giving anyone their blessing. May no blessing ever come to them.

18 They called down curses on others as easily as they put on clothes. Cursing was as natural to them as getting a drink of water or putting olive oil on their bodies.

19 May their curses cover them like coats. May their curses be wrapped around them like a belt forever.

20 May that be the LORD's way of paying back those who bring charges against me. May it happen to those who say evil things about me.

21 But LORD and King, be true to your name. Treat me well. Because your love is so good, save me.

22 I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded deep down inside me.

23 I fade away like an evening shadow. I'm like a locust that someone brushes off.

24 My knees are weak because I've gone without food. My body is very thin.

25 Those who bring charges against me laugh at me. When they see me, they shake their heads at me.

26 LORD my God, help me. Save me because you love me.

27 Lord, let my enemies know that you yourself have saved me. You have done it with your own hand.

28 They may call down a curse on me. But you will give me your blessing. When they attack me, they will be put to shame. But I will be filled with joy.

29 Those who bring charges against me will be clothed with dishonor. They will be wrapped in shame as if it were a coat.

30 With my mouth I will continually praise the Lord. I will praise him when all of his people gather for worship.

31 He stands ready to help those who need it. He saves them from those who have sentenced them to death.

1 Corinthians 4

1 Here is how you should think of us. We serve Christ. We are trusted with God's secret truth.

2 Those who have been given a trust must prove that they are faithful.

3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court. I don't even judge myself.

4 I don't feel I have done anything wrong. But that doesn't mean I'm not guilty. The Lord judges me.

5 So don't judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord returns. He will bring to light what is hidden in the dark. He will show the real reasons why people do what they do. At that time each person will receive praise from God.

6 Brothers and sisters, I have used myself and Apollos as examples to help you. You can learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Don't go beyond what is written." Then you won't be proud that you follow one person instead of another.

7 Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you brag as though you did not?

8 You already have everything you want, don't you? Have you already become rich? Have you begun to rule as kings? And did you do that without us? I wish that you really had begun to rule. Then we could rule with you!

9 It seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of a parade. We are like men sentenced to die in front of a crowd. We have been made a show for the whole creation to see. Angels and people are staring at us.

10 We are fools for Christ. But you are so wise in Christ! We are weak. But you are so strong! You are honored. But we are looked down on!

11 Up to this very hour we are hungry and thirsty. We are dressed in rags. We are being treated badly. We have no homes.

12 We work hard with our own hands. When others call down a curse on us, we bless them. When we are attacked, we put up with it.

13 When others say bad things about us, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the world's garbage. We are everybody's trash.

14 I am not writing this to shame you. You are my dear children, and I want to warn you.

15 You may have 10,000 believers in Christ watching over you. But you don't have many fathers. I became your father by serving Christ Jesus and telling you the good news.

16 So I'm asking you to follow my example.

17 That's the reason I'm sending Timothy to you. He is like a son to me, and I love him. He is faithful in serving the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in serving Christ Jesus. And that agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Some of you have become proud. You act as if I weren't coming to you.

19 But I will come very soon, if that's what the Lord wants. Then I will find out how those proud people are talking. I will also find out what power they have.

20 The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk. It is a matter of power.

21 Which do you want? Should I come to you with a whip? Or should I come in love and with a gentle spirit?