Psalms 143; Psalms 144; Psalms 145; 1 Corinthians 14:21-40

1 Listen to my prayer, LORD! Because of your faithfulness, hear my requests for mercy! Because of your righteousness, answer me!

2 Please don't bring your servant to judgment, because no living thing is righteous before you.

3 The enemy is chasing me, crushing my life in the dirt, forcing me to live in the dark like those who've been dead forever.

4 My spirit is weak inside me— inside, my mind is numb.

5 I remember the days long past; I meditate on all your deeds; I contemplate your handiwork.

6 I stretch out my hands to you; my whole being is like dry dirt, thirsting for you. Selah

7 Answer me, LORD—and quickly! My breath is fading. Don't hide your face from me or I'll be like those going down to the pit!

8 Tell me all about your faithful love come morning time, because I trust you. Show me the way I should go, because I offer my life up to you.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, LORD! I seek protection from you.

10 Teach me to do what pleases you, because you are my God. Guide me by your good spirit into good land.

11 Make me live again, LORD, for your name's sake. Bring me out of distress because of your righteousness.

12 Wipe out my enemies because of your faithful love. Destroy everyone who attacks me, because I am your servant.

1 Bless the LORD, my rock, who taught my hands how to fight, who taught my fingers how to do battle!

2 God is my loyal one, my fortress, my place of safety, my rescuer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, and the one who subdues people before me.

3 What are human beings, LORD, that you know them at all? What are human beings that you even consider them?

4 Humans are like a puff of air; their days go by like a shadow.

5 LORD, part your skies and come down! Touch the mountains so they smoke!

6 Flash lightning and scatter the enemy! Shoot your arrows and defeat them!

7 Stretch out your hand from above! Rescue me and deliver me from deep water, from the power of strangers, whose mouths speak lies,

8 and whose strong hand is a strong hand of deception!

9 I will sing a new song to you, God. I will sing praises to you on a ten-stringed harp,

10 to you—the one who gives saving help to rulers, and who rescues his servant David from the evil sword.

11 Rescue me and deliver me from the power of strangers, whose mouths speak lies, and whose strong hand is a strong hand of deception,

12 so that our sons can grow up fully, in their youth, like plants; so that our daughters can be like pillars carved to decorate a palace;

13 so that our barns can be full, providing all kinds of food; so that our flocks can be in the thousands— even tens of thousands—in our fields;

14 so that our cattle can be loaded with calves; so that there won't be any breach in the walls, no exile, no outcries in our streets!

15 The people who have it like this are truly happy! The people whose God is the LORD are truly happy!

1 I will lift you up high, my God, the true king. I will bless your name forever and always.

2 I will bless you every day. I will praise your name forever and always.

3 The LORD is great and so worthy of praise! God's greatness can't be grasped.

4 One generation will praise your works to the next one, proclaiming your mighty acts.

5 They will talk all about the glorious splendor of your majesty; I will contemplate your wondrous works.

6 They will speak of the power of your awesome deeds; I will declare your great accomplishments.

7 They will rave in celebration of your abundant goodness; they will shout joyfully about your righteousness:

8 "The LORD is merciful and compassionate, very patient, and full of faithful love.

9 The LORD is good to everyone and everything; God's compassion extends, to all his handiwork!"

10 All that you have made gives thanks to you, LORD; all your faithful ones bless you!

11 They speak of the glory of your kingdom; they talk all about your power,

12 to inform all human beings about God's power and the majestic glory of God's kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is a kingship that lasts forever; your rule endures for all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all that he says, faithful in all that he does.

14 The LORD supports all who fall down, straightens up all who are bent low.

15 All eyes look to you, hoping, and you give them their food right on time,

16 opening your hand and satisfying the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, faithful in all his deeds.

18 The LORD is close to everyone who calls out to him, to all who call out to him sincerely.

19 God shows favor to those who honor him, listening to their cries for help and saving them.

20 The LORD protects all who love him, but he destroys every wicked person.

21 My mouth will proclaim the LORD's praise, and every living thing will bless God's holy name forever and always.

21 In the Law it is written: I will speak to this people with foreign languages and foreigners' lips, but they will not even listen to me this way, says the Lord.

22 So then, tongues are a sign for those who don't believe, not for those who believe. But prophecy is a sign for believers, not for those who don't believe.

23 So suppose that the whole church is meeting and everyone is speaking in tongues. If people come in who are outsiders or unbelievers, won't they say that you are out of your minds?

24 But if everyone is prophesying when an unbeliever or outsider comes in, they are tested by all and called to account by all.

25 The secrets of their hearts are brought to light. When that happens, they will fall on their faces and worship God, proclaiming out loud that truly God is among you!

26 What is the outcome of this, brothers and sisters? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All these things must be done to build up the church.

27 If some speak in a tongue, then let two or at most three speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.

28 However, if there is no interpreter, then they should keep quiet in the meeting. They should speak privately to themselves and to God.

29 In the case of prophets, let two or three speak and have the rest evaluate what is said.

30 And if some revelation comes to someone else who is sitting down, the first one should be quiet.

31 You can all prophesy one at a time so that everyone can learn and be encouraged.

32 The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets.

33 God isn't a God of disorder but of peace. Like in all the churches of God's people,

34 the women should be quiet during the meeting. They are not allowed to talk. Instead, they need to get under control, just as the Law says.

35 If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is disgraceful for a woman to talk during the meeting.

36 Did the word of God originate with you? Has it come only to you?

37 If anyone thinks that they are prophets or "spiritual people," then let them recognize that what I'm writing to you is the Lord's command.

38 If someone doesn't recognize this, they aren't recognized.

39 So then, brothers and sisters, use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don't prevent speaking in tongues.

40 Everything should be done with dignity and in proper order.