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

1 O LORD, listen to my prayer. Open your ears to hear my urgent requests. Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.

2 Do not take me to court for judgment, because there is no one alive who is righteous in your presence.

3 The enemy has pursued me. He has ground my life into the dirt. He has made me live in dark places like those who have died long ago.

4 That is why I begin to lose hope and my heart is in a state of shock.

5 I remember the days long ago. I reflect on all that you have done. I carefully consider what your hands have made.

6 I stretch out my hands to you in prayer. Like parched land, my soul thirsts for you. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O LORD. My spirit is worn out. Do not hide your face from me, or I will be like those who go into the pit.

8 Let me hear about your mercy in the morning, because I trust you. Let me know the way that I should go, because I long for you.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD. I come to you for protection.

10 Teach me to do your will, because you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

11 O LORD, keep me alive for the sake of your name. Because you are righteous, lead me out of trouble.

12 In keeping with your mercy, wipe out my enemies and destroy all who torment me, because I am your servant.

1 Thank the LORD, my rock, who trained my hands to fight and my fingers to do battle,

2 my merciful one, my fortress, my stronghold, and my savior, my shield, the one in whom I take refuge, and the one who brings people under my authority.

3 O LORD, what are humans that you should care about them? What are mere mortals that you should think about them?

4 Humans are like a breath of air. Their life span is like a fleeting shadow.

5 O LORD, bend your heaven low, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.

6 Hurl bolts of lightning, and scatter them. Shoot your arrows, and throw them into confusion.

7 Stretch out your hands from above. Snatch me, and rescue me from raging waters and from foreigners' hands.

8 Their mouths speak lies. Their right hands take false pledges.

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

10 You are the one who gives victory to kings. You are the one who snatches your servant David away from a deadly sword.

11 Snatch me, and rescue me from foreigners' hands. Their mouths speak lies. Their right hands take false pledges.

12 May our sons be like full-grown, young plants. May our daughters be like stately columns that adorn the corners of a palace.

13 May our barns be filled with all kinds of crops. May our sheep give birth to thousands of lambs, tens of thousands in our fields.

14 May our cattle have many calves. May no one break in, and may no one be dragged out. May there be no cries of distress in our streets.

15 Blessed are the people who have these blessings! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

1 I will highly praise you, my God, the king. I will bless your name forever and ever.

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

3 The LORD is great, and he should be highly praised. His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation will praise your deeds to the next. Each generation will talk about your mighty acts.

5 I will think about the glorious honor of your majesty and the miraculous things you have done.

6 People will talk about the power of your terrifying deeds, and I will tell about your greatness.

7 They will announce what they remember of your great goodness, and they will joyfully sing about your righteousness.

8 The LORD is merciful, compassionate, patient, and always ready to forgive.

9 The LORD is good to everyone and has compassion for everything that he has made.

10 Everything that you have made will give thanks to you, O LORD, and your faithful ones will praise you.

11 Everyone will talk about the glory of your kingdom and will tell the descendants of Adam about your might

12 in order to make known your mighty deeds and the glorious honor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your empire endures throughout every generation.

14 The LORD supports everyone who falls. He straightens [the backs] of those who are bent over.

15 The eyes of all creatures look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand, and you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is fair in all his ways and faithful in everything he does.

18 The LORD is near to everyone who prays to him, to every faithful person who prays to him.

19 He fills the needs of those who fear him. He hears their cries for help and saves them.

20 The LORD protects everyone who loves him, but he will destroy all wicked people.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all living creatures will praise his holy name forever and ever.

21 God's word says, "Through people who speak foreign languages and through the mouths of foreigners I will speak to these people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."

22 So the gift of speaking in other languages is a sign for unbelievers, not for believers. The gift of speaking what God had revealed is a sign for believers, not for unbelievers.

23 Suppose the whole congregation gathers in the same place and you speak in other languages. When outsiders or unbelievers come in, won't they say that you're out of your mind?

24 Now suppose you speak what God has revealed. When unbelievers or outsiders come in you will show them where they are wrong and convince them that they are sinners.

25 The secrets in their hearts will become known, and in this way they will quickly bow with their faces touching the ground, worship God, and confess that God is truly among you.

26 So what does this mean, brothers and sisters? When you gather, each person has a psalm, doctrine, revelation, another language, or an interpretation. Everything must be done to help each other grow.

27 If people speak in other languages, only two or three at the most should speak. They should do it one at a time, and someone must interpret what each person says.

28 But if an interpreter isn't present, those people should remain silent in church. They should only speak to themselves and to God.

29 Two or three people should speak what God has revealed. Everyone else should decide whether what each person said is right or wrong.

30 If God reveals something to another person who is seated, the first speaker should be silent.

31 All of you can take your turns speaking what God has revealed. In that way, everyone will learn and be encouraged.

32 People who speak what God has revealed must control themselves.

33 God is not a God of disorder but a God of peace. As in all the churches of God's holy people,

34 the women must keep silent. They don't have the right to speak. They must take their place as Moses' Teachings say.

35 If they want to know anything they should ask their husbands at home. It's shameful for a woman to speak in church.

36 Did God's word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached?

37 Whoever thinks that he speaks for God or that he is spiritually gifted must acknowledge that what I write to you is what the Lord commands.

38 But whoever ignores what I write should be ignored.

39 So, brothers and sisters, desire to speak what God has revealed, and don't keep anyone from speaking in other languages.

40 Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.