Psalms 126; Psalms 127; Psalms 128; 1 Corinthians 10:19-33

Psalms 126

1 When the Lord brought us back to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!

2 How we laughed, how we sang for joy! Then the other nations said about us, "The Lord did great things for them."

3 Indeed he did great things for us; how happy we were!

4 Lord, make us prosperous again, just as the rain brings water back to dry riverbeds.

5 Let those who wept as they planted their crops, gather the harvest with joy!

6 Those who wept as they went out carrying the seed will come back singing for joy, as they bring in the harvest.

Psalms 127

1 If the Lord does not build the house, the work of the builders is useless; if the Lord does not protect the city, it does no good for the sentries to stand guard.

2 It is useless to work so hard for a living, getting up early and going to bed late. For the Lord provides for those he loves, while they are asleep.

3 Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a real blessing.

4 The sons a man has when he is young are like arrows in a soldier's hand.

5 Happy is the man who has many such arrows. He will never be defeated when he meets his enemies in the place of judgment.

Psalms 128

1 Happy are those who obey the Lord, who live by his commands.

2 Your work will provide for your needs; you will be happy and prosperous.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in your home, and your children will be like young olive trees around your table.

4 A man who obeys the Lord will surely be blessed like this.

5 May the Lord bless you from Zion! May you see Jerusalem prosper all the days of your life!

6 May you live to see your grandchildren! Peace be with Israel!

1 Corinthians 10:19-33

19 Do I imply, then, that an idol or the food offered to it really amounts to anything?

20 No! What I am saying is that what is sacrificed on pagan altars is offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be partners with demons.

21 You cannot drink from the Lord's cup and also from the cup of demons; you cannot eat at the Lord's table and also at the table of demons.

22 Or do we want to make the Lord jealous? Do we think that we are stronger than he?

23 "We are allowed to do anything," so they say. That is true, but not everything is good. "We are allowed to do anything" - but not everything is helpful.

24 None of you should be looking out for your own interests, but for the interests of others.

25 You are free to eat anything sold in the meat market, without asking any questions because of your conscience.

26 For, as the scripture says, "The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord."

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you decide to go, eat what is set before you, without asking any questions because of your conscience.

28 But if someone tells you, "This food was offered to idols," then do not eat that food, for the sake of the one who told you and for conscience' sake -

29 that is, not your own conscience, but the other person's conscience. "Well, then," someone asks, "why should my freedom to act be limited by another person's conscience?

30 If I thank God for my food, why should anyone criticize me about food for which I give thanks?"

31 Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God's glory.

32 Live in such a way as to cause no trouble either to Jews or Gentiles or to the church of God.

33 Just do as I do; I try to please everyone in all that I do, not thinking of my own good, but of the good of all, so that they might be saved.