Psalms 1; Psalms 2; Psalms 3; Acts 17:1-15

Psalms 1

1 Blessed is the one who obeys the law of the Lord. He doesn't follow the advice of evil people. He doesn't make a habit of doing what sinners do. He doesn't join those who make fun of the LORD and his law.

2 Instead, he takes delight in the law of the Lord. He thinks about his law day and night.

3 He is like a tree that is planted near a stream of water. It always bears its fruit at the right time. Its leaves don't dry up. Everything godly people do turns out well.

4 Sinful people are not like that at all. They are like straw that the wind blows away.

5 When the LORD judges them, their life will come to an end. Sinners won't have any place among those who are godly.

6 The LORD watches over the lives of those who are godly. But the lives of sinful people will lead to their death.

Psalms 2

1 Why do the nations plan evil together? Why do they make useless plans?

2 The kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord. The rulers of the earth gather together against his anointed king.

3 "Let us break free from their chains," they say. "Let us throw off their ropes."

4 The One who sits on his throne in heaven laughs. The Lord makes fun of those rulers and their plans.

5 When he is angry, he warns them. When his anger blazes out, he terrifies them.

6 He says to them, "I have placed my king on my holy mountain of Zion."

7 I will announce what the LORD has promised. He said to me, "You are my son. Today I have become your father.

8 Ask me, and I will give the nations to you. All nations on earth will belong to you.

9 You will rule them with an iron rod. You will break them to pieces like clay pots."

10 Kings, be wise! Rulers of the earth, be warned!

11 Serve the LORD and have respect for him. Serve him with joy and trembling.

12 Obey the son completely, or he will be angry. Your way of life will lead to your death. His anger can blaze out at any moment. Blessed are all those who go to him for safety.

Psalms 3

1 Lord, I have so many enemies! So many people are rising up against me!

2 Many are saying about me, "God will not save him." "Selah"

3 Lord, you are like a shield that keeps me safe. You honor me. You help me win the battle.

4 I call out to the Lord. He answers me from his holy hill. "Selah"

5 I lie down and sleep. I wake up again, because the LORD takes care of me.

6 I won't be afraid of the tens of thousands who are lined up against me on every side.

7 Lord, rise up! My God, save me! Strike all my enemies in the face. Break the teeth of sinful people.

8 Lord, you are the one who saves. May your blessing be on your people. "Selah"

Acts 17:1-15

1 Paul and Silas passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia. They came to Thessalonica. A Jewish synagogue was there.

2 Paul went into the synagogue as he usually did. For three Sabbath days in a row he talked about the Scriptures with the Jews.

3 He explained and proved that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am telling you about is the Christ!" he said.

4 His words won some of the Jews over. They joined Paul and Silas. A large number of Greeks who worshiped God joined them too. So did quite a few important women.

5 But the Jews were jealous. So they rounded up some evil fellows from the market place. Forming a crowd, they started all kinds of trouble in the city. The Jews rushed to Jason's house. They were looking for Paul and Silas. They wanted to bring them out to the crowd.

6 But they couldn't find them. So they dragged Jason and some other believers to the city officials. "These men have caused trouble all over the world," they shouted. "Now they have come here.

7 Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all disobeying Caesar's commands. They say there is another king. He is called Jesus."

8 When the crowd and the city officials heard this, they became very upset.

9 They made Jason and the others give them money. They wanted to make sure they would return to the court. Then they let them go.

10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue.

11 The Bereans were very glad to receive Paul's message. They studied the Scriptures carefully every day. They wanted to see if what Paul said was true. So they were more noble than the Thessalonians.

12 Many of the Jews believed. A number of important Greek women also became believers. And so did many Greek men.

13 The Jews in Thessalonica found out that Paul was preaching God's word in Berea. So they went there too. They stirred up the crowds and got them all worked up.

14 Right away the believers sent Paul to the coast. But Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea.

15 The men who went with Paul took him to Athens. Then they returned with orders that Silas and Timothy were supposed to join him as soon as they could.