Psalms 4; Psalms 5; Psalms 6; Acts 17:16-34

1 My faithful God, answer me when I call out to you. Give me rest from my trouble. Show me your favor. Hear my prayer.

2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love what will certainly fail you? How long will you pray to statues of gods? "Selah"

3 Remember that the LORD has set his faithful people apart for himself. The LORD will hear me when I call out to him.

4 When you are angry, do not sin. When you are in bed, look deep down inside you and be silent. "Selah"

5 Offer sacrifices to the LORD in the right way. Trust in him.

6 Many are asking, "Who can show us anything good?" Lord, let us see your face smiling on us with favor.

7 You have filled my heart with great joy. It is greater than the joy of people who have lots of grain and fresh wine.

8 I will lie down and sleep in peace. Lord, you alone keep me safe.

1 Lord, listen to my words. Pay attention when I sigh.

2 My King and my God, listen to me when I cry for help. I pray to you.

3 Lord, in the morning you hear my voice. In the morning I pray to you. I wait for you in hope.

4 God, you aren't happy with anything that is evil. Those who do what is wrong can't live where you are.

5 Those who are proud can't stand in front of you. You hate everyone who does what is evil.

6 You destroy those who tell lies. Lord, you hate murderers and those who cheat others.

7 Because of your great love I will come into your house. With deep respect I will bow down toward your holy temple.

8 Lord, I have many enemies. Lead me in your right path. Make your way smooth and straight for me.

9 Not a word from their mouths can be trusted. Their hearts are filled with plans to destroy others. Their throats are like open graves. With their tongues they tell lies.

10 God, show that they are guilty. Let their evil plans bring them down. Send them away because of their many sins. They have refused to obey you.

11 But let all those who go to you for safety be glad. Let them always sing with joy. Spread your cover over them and keep them safe. Then those who love you will be glad because of you.

12 Lord, you bless those who do what is right. Like a shield, your loving care keeps them safe.

1 Lord, don't correct me when you are angry. Don't punish me when you are burning with anger.

2 Lord, have mercy on me. I'm so weak. Lord, heal me. My body is full of pain.

3 My soul is very troubled. Lord, how long will it be until you save me?

4 Lord, turn to me and help me. Save me. Your love never fails.

5 People can't remember you when they are dead. How can they praise you when they are in the grave?

6 My groaning has worn me out. All night long my tears flood my bed. My bed is wet because of my crying.

7 I'm so sad I can't see very well. My eyesight gets worse because of all of my enemies.

8 Get away from me, all of you who do evil. The LORD has heard my sobbing.

9 The LORD has heard my cry for his favor. The LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All of my enemies will be troubled and put to shame. They will turn back in dishonor. It will happen suddenly.

16 Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens. He was very upset to see that the city was full of statues of gods.

17 So he went to the synagogue. There he talked with Jews and with Greeks who worshiped God. Each day he spoke with anyone who happened to be in the market place.

18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic thinkers began to argue with him. Some of them asked, "What is this fellow chattering about?" Others said, "He seems to be telling us about gods we've never heard of." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus. He was telling them that Jesus had risen from the dead.

19 They took him to a meeting of the Areopagus. There they said to him, "What is this new teaching you're giving us?

20 You have some strange ideas. We've never heard them before. We want to know what they mean."

21 All the people of Athens spent their time talking about and listening to the latest ideas. People from other lands who lived there did the same.

22 Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus. He said, "Men of Athens! I see that you are very religious in every way.

23 As I walked around, I looked carefully at the things you worship. I even found an altar with TO AN UNKNOWN GOD written on it. Now I am going to tell you about this 'unknown god' that you worship.

24 "He is the God who made the world. He also made everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't live in temples built by hands.

25 He is not served by human hands. He doesn't need anything. He himself gives life and breath to all people. He also gives them everything else they have.

26 From one man he made all the people of the world. Now they live all over the earth. He decided exactly when they should live. And he decided exactly where they should live.

27 God did this so that people would seek him. Then perhaps they would reach out for him and find him. They would find him even though he is not far from any of us.

28 'In him we live and move and exist.' As some of your own poets have also said, 'We are his children.'

29 "Yes, we are God's children. So we shouldn't think that God is made out of gold or silver or stone. He isn't a statue planned and made by clever people.

30 In the past, God didn't judge people for what they didn't know. But now he commands all people everywhere to turn away from their sins.

31 He has set a day when he will judge the world fairly. He has appointed a man to be its judge. God has proved this to all people by raising that man from the dead."

32 When they heard Paul talk about the dead rising, some of them made fun of it. But others said, "We want to hear you speak about this again."

33 So Paul left the meeting of the Areopagus.

34 A few men became followers of Paul and believed in Jesus. Dionysius was one of them. He was a member of the Areopagus. A woman named Damaris also became a believer. And so did some others.