Bible Browser

Psalm 115

1  Not to us, Lord, not to us,
      but to your name give the glory, ♦︎
   for the sake of your loving mercy and truth.
2  Why should the nations say, ♦︎
   ‘Where is now their God?’
3  As for our God, he is in heaven; ♦︎
   he does whatever he pleases.
4  Their idols are silver and gold, ♦︎
   the work of human hands.
5  They have mouths, but cannot speak; ♦︎
   eyes have they, but cannot see;
6  They have ears, but cannot hear; ♦︎
   noses have they, but cannot smell;
7  They have hands, but cannot feel;
      feet have they, but cannot walk; ♦︎
   not a whisper do they make from their throats.
8  Those who make them shall become like them ♦︎
   and so will all who put their trust in them.
9  But you, Israel, put your trust in the Lord; ♦︎
   he is their help and their shield.
10  House of Aaron, trust in the Lord; ♦︎
   he is their help and their shield.
11  You that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; ♦︎
   he is their help and their shield.
12  The Lord has been mindful of us and he will bless us; ♦︎
   may he bless the house of Israel;
      may he bless the house of Aaron;
13  May he bless those who fear the Lord, ♦︎
   both small and great together.
14  May the Lord increase you more and more, ♦︎
   you and your children after you.
15  May you be blest by the Lord, ♦︎
   the maker of heaven and earth.
16  The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, ♦︎
   but the earth he has entrusted to his children.
17  The dead do not praise the Lord, ♦︎
   nor those gone down into silence;
18  But we will bless the Lord, ♦︎
   from this time forth for evermore.
      Alleluia.

Jethro’s Advice

18Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. ²After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro took her back, ³along with her two sons. The name of one was Gershom (for he said, ‘I have been an alien^* in a foreign land’), ⁴and the name of the other, Eliezer^* (for he said, ‘The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh’). ⁵Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came into the wilderness where Moses was encamped at the mountain of God, bringing Moses’ sons and wife to him. ⁶He sent word to Moses, ‘I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons.’ ⁷Moses went out to meet his father-in-law; he bowed down and kissed him; each asked after the other’s welfare, and they went into the tent. ⁸Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had beset them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. ⁹Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the Egyptians.

10 Jethro said, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. ¹¹Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because he delivered the people from the Egyptians,^* when they dealt arrogantly with them.’ ¹²And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt-offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

13 The next day Moses sat as judge for the people, while the people stood around him from morning until evening. ¹⁴When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?’ ¹⁵Moses said to his father-in-law, ‘Because the people come to me to inquire of God. ¹⁶When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God.’ ¹⁷Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. ¹⁹Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases before God; ²⁰teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do. ²¹You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set such men over them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²²Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. ²³If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace.’

24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. ²⁵Moses chose able men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. ²⁶And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any minor case they decided themselves. ²⁷Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went off to his own country.

Tending the Flock of God

5Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you ²to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight,^* not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it^*—not for sordid gain but eagerly. ³Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. ⁴And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. ⁵In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders.^* And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for
‘God opposes the proud,
   but gives grace to the humble.’

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Discipline yourselves; keep alert.^* Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters^* throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings and Benediction

12 Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you, and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. ¹³Your sister church^* in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. ¹⁴Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.^*