Psalms 13; Psalms 14; Psalms 15; Acts 19:21-41

Psalms 13

1 (12-1) Unto the end, a psalm for David. How long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me unto the end? how long dost thou turn away thy face from me?

2 (12-2) How long shall I take counsels in my soul, sorrow in my heart all the day?

3 (12-3) How long shall my enemy be exalted over Me?

4 (12-4) Consider, and hear me, O Lord, my God. Enlighten my eyes, that I never sleep in death:

5 (12-5) Lest at any time my enemy say: I have prevailed against him. They that trouble me, will rejoice when I am moved:

6 (12-6) But I have trusted in thy mercy. My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation: I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things: yea, I will sing to the name of the Lord, the most high.

Psalms 14

1 (13-1) <Unto the end, a psalm for David.> The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none that doth good, no not one.

2 (13-2) The Lord hath looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there be any that understand and seek God.

3 (13-3) They are all gone aside, they are become unprofitable together: there is none that doth good: no not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they acted deceitfully: the poison of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and unhappiness in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.

4 (13-4) Shall not all they know that work iniquity, who devour my people as they eat bread?

5 (13-5) They have not called upon the Lord: there have they trembled for fear, where there was no fear.

6 (13-6) For the Lord is in the just generation: you have confounded the counsel of the poor man; but the Lord is his hope.

7 (13-7) Who shall give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when the Lord shall have turned away the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Psalms 15

1 (14-1) <A psalm for David.> Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? or who shall rest in thy holy hill?

2 (14-2) He that walketh without blemish, and worketh justice:

3 (14-3) He that speaketh truth in his heart, who hath not used deceit in his tongue: Nor hath done evil to his neighbour: nor taken up a reproach against his neighbours.

4 (14-4) In his sight the malignant is brought to nothing: but he glorifieth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his neighbour, and deceiveth not;

5 (14-5) He that hath not put out his money to usury, nor taken bribes against the innocent: He that doth these things, shall not be moved for ever.

Acts 19:21-41

21 And when these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying: After I have been there, I must see Rome also.

22 And sending into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself remained for a time in Asia.

23 Now at that time there arose no small disturbance about the way of the Lord.

24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver temples for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen.

25 Whom he calling together with the workmen of like occupation, said: Sirs, you know that our gain is by this trade.

26 And you see and hear that this Paul, by persuasion hath drawn away a great multitude, not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, saying: they are not gods which are made by hands.

27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought, but also the temple of great Diana shall be reputed for nothing! Yea, and her majesty shall begin to be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

28 Having heard these things, they were full of anger and cried out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians!

29 And the whole city was filled with confusion. And having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31 And some also of the rulers of Asia, who were his friends, sent unto him, desiring that he would not venture himself into the theatre.

32 Now some cried one thing, some another. For the assembly was confused: and the greater part knew not for what cause they were come together.

33 And they drew forth Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews thrusting him forward. And Alexander, beckoning with his hand for silence, would have given the people satisfaction,

34 But as soon as they perceived him to be a Jew, all with one voice, for the space of about two, hours, cried out: Great is Diana of the Ephesians!

35 And when the town clerk had appeased the multitudes, he said: Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great Diana and of Jupiter’s offspring?

36 For as much therefore as these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rashly.

37 For you have brought hither these men, who are neither guilty of sacrilege nor of blasphemy against your goddess.

38 But if Demetrius and the craftsmen that are with him have a matter against any man, the courts of justice are open: and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another.

39 And if you inquire after any other matter, it may be decided in a lawful assembly.

40 For we are even in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no man guilty (of whom we may give account) of this concourse.

41 (19-40) And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.