Day 487 of 730

¹Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

²Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

³They, being sent on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.

⁴When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them.

⁵But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses."

⁶The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

⁷When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News, and believe.

⁸God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

⁹He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

¹⁰Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

¹¹But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are."

¹²All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.

¹³After they were silent, Jacob answered, "Brothers, listen to me.

¹⁴Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations, to take out of them a people for his name.

¹⁵This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

¹⁶'After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up,

¹⁷That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; All the Gentiles who are called by my name,' Says the Lord, who makes these things

¹⁸known from of old.

¹⁹"Therefore my judgment is that we do not trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

²⁰but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

²¹For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who proclaim him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."

²²Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.

²³They wrote these things by their hand: "The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

²⁴Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, to whom we gave no commandment;

²⁵it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

²⁶men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁷We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.

²⁸For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

²⁹that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell."

³⁰So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

³¹When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

³²Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them.

³³After they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to those that had sent them forth.

³⁴No text for this verse number in this edition.

³⁵But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, with many others also.

³⁶After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing."

³⁷Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.

³⁸But Paul did not think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and did not go with them to do the work.

³⁹Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus,

⁴⁰but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

⁴¹He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

¹ALEPH Do not fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

²For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

³Trust in the Lord, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.

⁴Also delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in him, and he will do this:

⁶he will make your righteousness go forth as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun.

⁷Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.

⁸Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing.

⁹For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

¹⁰For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn't there.

¹¹But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

¹²The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

¹³The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.

¹⁴The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright in the way.

¹⁵Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.

¹⁶Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.

¹⁷For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.

¹⁸The Lord knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.

¹⁹They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

²⁰But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of the Lord shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish- vanish like smoke.

²¹The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous give generously.

²²For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.

²³A man's goings are established by the Lord. He delights in his way.

²⁴Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for the Lord holds him up with his hand.

²⁵I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.

²⁶All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His seed is blessed.

²⁷Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.

²⁸For the Lord loves justice, and doesn't forsake his holy ones. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

²⁹The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.

³⁰The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.

³¹The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.

³²The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him.

³³The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

³⁴Wait for the Lord, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

³⁵I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

³⁶But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

³⁷Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

³⁸As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

³⁹But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

⁴⁰The Lord helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him.

¹A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

²The rich and the poor have this in common: The Lord is the maker of them all.

³A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

⁴The result of humility and the fear of the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.

⁵Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.

⁶Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁷The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

⁹He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.

¹⁰Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

¹¹He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.

¹²The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

¹³The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!"

¹⁴The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under the Lord's wrath will fall into it.

¹⁵Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

¹⁶Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.

¹⁷Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.

¹⁸For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

¹⁹That your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.

²⁰Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

²¹To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

²²Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;

²³for the Lord will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

²⁴Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:

²⁵lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

²⁶Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

²⁷If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

²⁸Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.

²⁹Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.