Psalms 18; Psalms 19; Acts 20:17-38

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Psalms 18

1 I love you, Lord. You give me strength.

2 The LORD is my rock and my fort. He is the One who saves me. My God is my rock. I go to him for safety. He is like a shield to me. He's the power that saves me. He's my place of safety.

3 I call out to the Lord. He is worthy of praise. He saves me from my enemies.

4 The ropes of death were almost wrapped around me. A destroying flood swept over me.

5 The ropes of the grave were tight around me. Death set its trap in front of me.

6 When I was in trouble, I called out to the Lord. I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice. My cry for help reached his ears.

7 The earth trembled and shook. The base of the mountains rocked back and forth. It trembled because the LORD was angry.

8 Smoke came out of his nose. Flames of fire came out of his mouth. Burning coals blazed out of it.

9 He opened the heavens and came down. Dark clouds were under his feet.

10 He got on the cherubim and flew. The wings of the wind lifted him up.

11 He covered himself with darkness. The dark rain clouds of the sky were like a tent around him.

12 Clouds came out of the brightness that was all around him. They came with hailstones and flashes of lightning.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven. The voice of the Most High God was heard.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered our enemies. He sent great flashes of lightning and chased the enemies away.

15 The bottom of the sea could be seen. The foundations of the earth were uncovered. Lord, it happened when your anger blazed out. It came like a blast of breath from your nose.

16 He reached down from heaven. He took hold of me. He lifted me out of deep waters.

17 He saved me from my powerful enemies. He set me free from those who were too strong for me.

18 They stood up to me when I was in trouble. But the LORD helped me.

19 He brought me out into a wide and safe place. He saved me because he was pleased with me.

20 The LORD has been good to me because I do what is right. He has rewarded me because I lead a pure life.

21 I have lived the way the LORD wanted me to. I haven't done evil by turning away from my God.

22 I keep all of his laws in mind. I haven't turned away from his commands.

23 He knows that I am without blame. He knows I've kept myself from sinning.

24 The LORD has rewarded me for doing what is right. He has rewarded me because I haven't done anything wrong.

25 LORD, to those who are faithful you show that you are faithful. To those who are without blame you show that you are without blame.

26 To those who are pure you show that you are pure. But to those whose paths are crooked you show that you are clever.

27 You save those who aren't proud. But you bring down those whose eyes are proud.

28 Lord, you keep the lamp of my life burning brightly. You are my God. You bring light into my darkness.

29 With your help I can attack a troop of soldiers. With the help of my God I can climb over a wall.

30 God's way is perfect. The word of the LORD doesn't have any flaws. He is like a shield to all who go to him for safety.

31 Who is God except the Lord? Who is the Rock except our God?

32 God gives me strength for the battle. He makes my way perfect.

33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He helps me stand on the highest places.

34 He trains my hands to fight every battle. My arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 Lord, you are like a shield that keeps me safe. You help me win the battle. Your strong right hand keeps me going. You bend down to make me great.

36 You give me a wide path to walk on so that I don't twist my ankles.

37 I chased my enemies and caught them. I didn't turn back until they were destroyed.

38 I crushed them so that they couldn't get up. They fell under my feet.

39 Lord, you gave me strength to fight the battle. You made my enemies bow down at my feet.

40 You made them turn their backs and run away. So I destroyed my enemies.

41 They cried out for help. But there was no one to save them. They called out to you. But you didn't answer them.

42 I beat them as fine as dust blown by the wind. I poured them out like mud in the streets.

43 You saved me when my own people attacked me. You made me the ruler over nations. People I didn't know serve me now.

44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me. People from other lands bow down to me in fear.

45 All of them give up hope. They come trembling out of their hiding places.

46 The LORD lives! Give praise to my Rock! Give honor to God my Savior!

47 He is the God who pays my enemies back. He brings the nations under my control.

48 He saves me from my enemies. You have honored me more than them. You have saved me from men who want to hurt me.

49 Lord, I will praise you among the nations. I will sing praises to you.

50 The LORD helps his king win great battles. He shows his faithful love to his anointed king. He shows it to me and my family forever.

Psalms 19

1 The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies show that his hands created them.

2 Day after day they speak about it. Night after night they make it known.

3 But they don't speak or use words. No sound is heard from them.

4 At the same time, their voice goes out into the whole earth. Their words go out from one end of the world to the other. God has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun.

5 The sun is like a groom coming out of the room where he spent his wedding night. The sun is like a great runner who takes delight in running a race.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens. Then it moves across to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect. It gives us new strength. The laws of the LORD can be trusted. They make childish people wise.

8 The rules of the LORD are right. They give joy to our hearts. The commands of the LORD shine brightly. They give light to our minds.

9 The law that brings respect for the LORD is pure. It lasts forever. The directions the LORD gives are true. All of them are completely right.

10 They are more priceless than gold. They have greater value than huge amounts of pure gold. They are sweeter than honey that is taken from the honeycomb.

11 I am warned by them. When I obey them, I am greatly rewarded.

12 Can I know my mistakes? Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep me also from the sins I want to commit. May they not be my master. Then I will be without blame. I will not be guilty of any great sin against your law.

14 Lord, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in your eyes. You are my Rock and my Redeemer.

Acts 20:17-38

17 From Miletus, Paul sent for the elders of the church at Ephesus.

18 When they arrived, he spoke to them. "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you," he said. "From the first day I came into Asia Minor,

19 I was free of pride. I served the Lord with tears. I served him even though I was greatly tested by the evil plans of the Jews.

20 You know I haven't let anyone keep me from preaching anything that would be helpful to you. I have taught you in public and from house to house.

21 I have told both Jews and Greeks that they must turn away from their sins to God. They must have faith in our Lord Jesus.

22 "Now I am going to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit compels me. I don't know what will happen to me there.

23 I only know that in every city the Spirit warns me. He tells me that I will face prison and suffering.

24 But my life means nothing to me. I only want to finish the race. I want to complete the work the Lord Jesus has given me. He wants me to give witness to others about the good news of God's grace.

25 "I have spent time with you preaching about the kingdom. I know that none of you will ever see me again.

26 So I tell you today that I am not guilty if anyone has not believed.

27 I haven't let anyone keep me from telling you everything God wants you to do.

28 "Keep watch over yourselves. Keep watch over all the believers. The Holy Spirit has made you leaders over them. Be shepherds of God's church. He bought it with his own blood.

29 "I know that after I leave, wild wolves will come in among you. They won't spare any of the sheep.

30 Even men from your own people will rise up and twist the truth. They want to get the believers to follow them.

31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning you. Night and day I warned each of you with tears.

32 "Now I commit you to God's care. I commit you to the word of his grace. It can build you up. Then you will share in what God plans to give all his people.

33 I haven't longed for anyone's silver or gold or clothing.

34 You yourselves know that I have used my own hands to meet my needs. I have also met the needs of my companions.

35 In everything I did, I showed you that we must work hard and help the weak. We must remember the words of the Lord Jesus. He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

36 When Paul had said this, he got down on his knees with all of them and prayed.

37 They all cried as they hugged and kissed him.

38 What hurt them the most was that he had said they would never see his face again. Then they went with him to the ship.