Psalms 143; Psalms 144; Psalms 145; 1 Corinthians 14:21-40

1 Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for your favor. You are faithful and right. Come and help me.

2 Don't take me to court and judge me, because in your eyes no living person does what is right.

3 My enemies chase me. They crush me down to the ground. They make me live in darkness like those who died long ago.

4 So I grow weak. Deep down inside me, I'm afraid.

5 I remember what happened long ago. I spend time thinking about all of your acts. I consider what your hands have done.

6 I spread out my hands to you in prayer. I'm thirsty for you, just as dry ground is thirsty for rain. "Selah"

7 Lord, answer me quickly. I'm growing weak. Don't turn your face away from me, or I will be like those who go down into the grave.

8 In the morning let me hear about your faithful love, because I've put my trust in you. Show me the way I should live, because I pray to you.

9 Lord, save me from my enemies, because I go to you for safety.

10 Teach me to do what you want, because you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me on a level path.

11 Lord, be true to your name. Keep me alive. Because you do what is right, get me out of trouble.

12 Because your love is faithful, put an end to my enemies. Destroy all of them, because I serve you.

1 Give praise to the Lord. He is my rock. He trains my hands for war. He trains my fingers for battle.

2 He is my loving God. He is like a fort to me. He is my place of safety and the One who saves me. He is like a shield that keeps me safe. I go to him for safety. He brings nations under my control.

3 Lord, what is a human being that you take care of him? What is a son of man that you think about him?

4 His life doesn't last any longer than a breath. His days are like a shadow that quickly disappears.

5 Lord, open up your heavens and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will pour out smoke.

6 Send flashes of lightning and scatter my enemies. Shoot your arrows and chase them away.

7 My enemies are like a mighty flood. Reach down from heaven and save me. Save me from strangers who attack me.

8 They tell all kinds of lies with their mouths. Even when they make a promise by raising their right hands, they don't mean it.

9 God, I will sing a new song to you. I will make music to you on a harp that has ten strings.

10 You are the One who helps kings win battles. You save your servant David from dying by the sword.

11 Save me. Set me free from strangers who attack me. They tell all kinds of lies with their mouths. Even when they make a promise by raising their right hands, they don't mean it.

12 While our sons are young, they will be like healthy plants. Our daughters will be like pillars that have been made to decorate a palace.

13 Our storerooms will be filled with every kind of food. The sheep in our fields will increase by thousands. They will increase by tens of thousands.

14 Our oxen will pull heavy loads. None of our city walls will be broken down. No one will be carried off as a prisoner. No cries of pain will be heard in our streets.

15 Blessed are the people about whom all of those things are true. Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.

1 I will honor you, my God the King. I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2 Every day I will praise you. I will praise your name for ever and ever.

3 Lord, you are great. You are really worthy of praise. No one can completely understand how great you are.

4 Parents will praise your works to their children. They will tell about your mighty acts.

5 They will speak about your glorious majesty. I will spend time thinking about your miracles.

6 They will speak about the powerful and wonderful things you do. I will talk about the great things you have done.

7 They will celebrate your great goodness. They will sing with joy about your holy acts.

8 The LORD is gracious. He is kind and tender. He is slow to get angry. He is full of love.

9 The LORD is good to all. He shows deep concern for everything he has made.

10 Lord, every living thing you have made will praise you. Your faithful people will praise you.

11 They will tell about your glorious kingdom. They will speak about your power.

12 Then all people will know about the mighty things you have done. They will know about the glorious majesty of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is a kingdom that will last forever. Your rule will continue for all time to come. The LORD is faithful and will keep all of his promises. He is loving toward everything he has made.

14 The LORD takes good care of all those who fall. He lifts up all those who feel helpless.

15 Every living thing looks to you for food. You give it to them exactly when they need it.

16 You open your hand and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

17 The LORD is right in everything he does. He is loving toward everything he has made.

18 The LORD is ready to help all those who call out to him. He helps those who really mean it when they call out to him.

19 He satisfies the needs of those who have respect for him. He hears their cry and saves them.

20 The LORD watches over all those who love him. But he will destroy all sinful people.

21 I will praise the LORD with my mouth. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

21 In the Law it is written, "Through people who speak unfamiliar languages and through the lips of strangers I will speak to these people. But even then they will not listen to me." (Isaiah 28:11,12)

22 So speaking in other languages is a sign for those who don't believe. It is not a sign for those who do believe. But prophecy is for believers. It is not for those who don't believe.

23 Suppose the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in other languages. And suppose visitors or unbelievers come in. Won't they say you are out of your minds?

24 But suppose unbelievers or visitors come in while everyone is prophesying. Then they will be shown by all who speak that they are sinners. They will be judged by all.

25 The secrets of their hearts will be brought out into the open. They will fall down and worship God. They will exclaim, "God is really here among you!"

26 Brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you come together, every one of you brings something. You bring a hymn or a teaching or a word from God. You bring a message in another language or explain what was said. All of those things must be done to make the church strong.

27 No more than two or three people should speak in another language. And they should speak one at a time. Then someone must explain what was said.

28 If there is no one to explain, the speakers should keep quiet in the church. They can speak to themselves and to God.

29 Only two or three prophets are supposed to speak. Others should decide if what is being said is true.

30 What if a message from God comes to someone else who is sitting there? Then the one who is speaking should stop.

31 Those who prophesy can all take turns. In that way, everyone can be taught and be given hope.

32 Those who prophesy should control their speaking.

33 God is not a God of disorder. He is a God of peace. As in all the churches of God's people,

34 women should remain silent in the meetings. They are not allowed to speak. They must follow the lead of those who are in authority, as the Law says.

35 If they have a question about something, they should ask their own husbands at home. It is shameful for women to speak in church meetings.

36 Did the word of God begin with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?

37 Suppose some think they are prophets or have gifts of the Holy Spirit. They should agree that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.

38 Anyone who does not recognize that will not be recognized.

39 Brothers and sisters, you should want to prophesy. And don't stop people from speaking in languages they had not known before.

40 But everything should be done in a proper and orderly way.