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Psalm 62

1  On God alone my soul in stillness waits; ♦︎
   from him comes my salvation.
2  He alone is my rock and my salvation, ♦︎
   my stronghold, so that I shall never be shaken.
3  How long will all of you assail me to destroy me, ♦︎
   as you would a tottering wall or a leaning fence?
4  They plot only to thrust me down from my place of honour;
      lies are their chief delight; ♦︎
   they bless with their mouth, but in their heart they curse.
5  Wait on God alone in stillness, O my soul; ♦︎
   for in him is my hope.
6  He alone is my rock and my salvation, ♦︎
   my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
7  In God is my strength and my glory; ♦︎
   God is my strong rock; in him is my refuge.
8  Put your trust in him always, my people; ♦︎
   pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
9  The peoples are but a breath,
      the whole human race a deceit; ♦︎
   on the scales they are altogether lighter than air.
10  Put no trust in oppression; in robbery take no empty pride; ♦︎
   though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
11  God spoke once, and twice have I heard the same, ♦︎
   that power belongs to God.
12  Steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord, ♦︎
   for you repay everyone according to their deeds.

Psalm 63

1  O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; ♦︎
   my soul is athirst for you.
2  My flesh also faints for you, ♦︎
   as in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
3  So would I gaze upon you in your holy place, ♦︎
   that I might behold your power and your glory.
4  Your loving-kindness is better than life itself ♦︎
   and so my lips shall praise you.
5  I will bless you as long as I live ♦︎
   and lift up my hands in your name.
6  My soul shall be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness, ♦︎
   and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,
7  When I remember you upon my bed ♦︎
   and meditate on you in the watches of the night.
8  For you have been my helper ♦︎
   and under the shadow of your wings will I rejoice.
9  My soul clings to you; ♦︎
   your right hand shall hold me fast.
10  But those who seek my soul to destroy it ♦︎
   shall go down to the depths of the earth;
11  Let them fall by the edge of the sword ♦︎
   and become a portion for jackals.
12  But the king shall rejoice in God;
      all those who swear by him shall be glad, ♦︎
   for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

Zophar Speaks: Job’s Guilt Deserves Punishment

11Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
² ‘Should a multitude of words go unanswered,
   and should one full of talk be vindicated?
³ Should your babble put others to silence,
   and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
⁴ For you say, “My conduct^* is pure,
   and I am clean in God’s^* sight.”
⁵ But O that God would speak,
   and open his lips to you,
⁶ and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
   For wisdom is many-sided.^*
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

⁷ ‘Can you find out the deep things of God?
   Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?^*
8 It is higher than heaven^*—what can you do?
   Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
⁹ Its measure is longer than the earth,
   and broader than the sea.
¹⁰ If he passes through, and imprisons,
   and assembles for judgement, who can hinder him?
¹¹ For he knows those who are worthless;
   when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
¹² But a stupid person will get understanding,
   when a wild ass is born human.^*

¹³ ‘If you direct your heart rightly,
   you will stretch out your hands towards him.
¹⁴ If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
   and do not let wickedness reside in your tents.
¹⁵ Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
   you will be secure, and will not fear.
¹⁶ You will forget your misery;
   you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
¹⁷ And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
   its darkness will be like the morning.
¹⁸ And you will have confidence, because there is hope;
   you will be protected^* and take your rest in safety.
¹⁹ You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid;
   many will entreat your favour.
²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
   all way of escape will be lost to them,
   and their hope is to breathe their last.’

The Church in Antioch

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. ²⁰But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists^* also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. ²¹The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. ²²News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; ²⁴for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. ²⁵Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with^* the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.

27 At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. ²⁹The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers^* living in Judea; ³⁰this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.