Psalms 140; Psalms 141; Psalms 142; 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

1 (139-1) <Unto the end, a psalm of David.> (139-2) Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.

2 (139-3) Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.

3 (139-4) They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of asps is under their lips.

4 (139-5) Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps:

5 (139-6) The proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside.

6 (139-7) I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication.

7 (139-8) O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed my head in the day of battle.

8 (139-9) Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph.

9 (139-10) The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.

10 (139-11) Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.

11 (139-12) A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.

12 (139-13) I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.

13 (139-14) But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance.

1 (140-1) I have cried to thee, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to thee.

2 (140-2) Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.

3 (140-3) Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.

4 (140-4) Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.

5 (140-5) The just man shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head. For my prayer shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased:

6 (140-6) Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up. They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed:

7 (140-7) As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground: Our bones are scattered by the side of hell.

8 (140-8) But to thee, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in thee have I put my trust, take not away my soul.

9 (140-9) Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumblingblocks of them that work iniquity.

10 (140-10) The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.

1 (141-1) <Of understanding for David, A prayer when he was in the cave.> (141-2) I cried to the Lord with my voice: with my voice I made supplication to the Lord.

2 (141-3) In his sight I pour out my prayer, and before him I declare my trouble:

3 (141-4) When my spirit failed me, then thou knewest my paths. In this way wherein I walked, they have hidden a snare for me.

4 (141-5) I looked on my right hand, and beheld, and there was no one that would know me. Flight hath failed me: and there is no one that hath regard to my soul.

5 (141-6) I cried to thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living.

6 (141-7) Attend to my supplication: for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

7 (141-8) Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the just wait for me, until thou reward me.

1 Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.

2 For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3 But he that prophesieth speaketh to men unto edification and exhortation and comfort.

4 He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

5 And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in doctrine?

7 Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9 So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.

10 There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world: and none is without voice.

11 If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak a barbarian: and he that speaketh a barbarian to me.

12 So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.

13 And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth: but my understanding is without fruit.

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also with the understanding, I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also with the understanding.

16 Else, if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? Because he knoweth not what thou sayest.

17 For thou indeed givest thanks well: but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.

19 But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also: than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brethren, do not become children in sense. But in malice be children: and in sense be perfect.