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Psalm 15

1  Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? ♦︎
   Who may rest upon your holy hill?
2  Whoever leads an uncorrupt life ♦︎
   and does the thing that is right;
3  Who speaks the truth from the heart ♦︎
   and bears no deceit on the tongue;
4  Who does no evil to a friend ♦︎
   and pours no scorn on a neighbour;
5  In whose sight the wicked are not esteemed, ♦︎
   but who honours those who fear the Lord.
6  Whoever has sworn to a neighbour ♦︎
   and never goes back on that word;
7  Who does not lend money in hope of gain, ♦︎
   nor takes a bribe against the innocent;
8  Whoever does these things ♦︎
   shall never fall.

Psalm 16

1  Preserve me, O God, for in you have I taken refuge; ♦︎
   I have said to the Lord, ‘You are my lord,
      all my good depends on you.’
2  All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, ♦︎
   upon those who are noble in heart.
3  Though the idols are legion
      that many run after, ♦︎
   their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
      neither make mention of their names upon my lips.
4  The Lord himself is my portion and my cup; ♦︎
   in your hands alone is my fortune.
5  My share has fallen in a fair land; ♦︎
   indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
6  I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel, ♦︎
   and in the night watches he instructs my heart.
7  I have set the Lord always before me; ♦︎
   he is at my right hand; I shall not fall.
8  Wherefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; ♦︎
   my flesh also shall rest secure.
9  For you will not abandon my soul to Death, ♦︎
   nor suffer your faithful one to see the Pit.
10  You will show me the path of life;
      in your presence is the fullness of joy ♦︎
   and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 17

1  Hear my just cause, O Lord; consider my complaint; ♦︎
   listen to my prayer, which comes not from lying lips.
2  Let my vindication come forth from your presence; ♦︎
   let your eyes behold what is right.
3  Weigh my heart, examine me by night, ♦︎
   refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.
4  My mouth does not trespass for earthly rewards; ♦︎
   I have heeded the words of your lips.
5  My footsteps hold fast in the ways of your commandments; ♦︎
   my feet have not stumbled in your paths.
6  I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; ♦︎
   incline your ear to me, and listen to my words.
7  Show me your marvellous loving-kindness, ♦︎
   O Saviour of those who take refuge at your right hand
      from those who rise up against them.
8  Keep me as the apple of your eye; ♦︎
   hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9  From the wicked who assault me, ♦︎
   from my enemies who surround me to take away my life.
10  They have closed their heart to pity ♦︎
   and their mouth speaks proud things.
11  They press me hard, they surround me on every side, ♦︎
   watching how they may cast me to the ground,
12  Like a lion that is greedy for its prey, ♦︎
   like a young lion lurking in secret places.
13  Arise, Lord; confront them and cast them down; ♦︎
   deliver me from the wicked by your sword.
14  Deliver me, O Lord, by your hand ♦︎
   from those whose portion in life is unending,
15  Whose bellies you fill with your treasure, ♦︎
   who are well supplied with children
      and leave their wealth to their little ones.
16  As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness; ♦︎
   when I awake and behold your likeness, I shall be satisfied.

Service Well-Pleasing to God

13Let mutual love continue. ²Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. ³Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.^{* 4}Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. ⁵Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ ⁶So we can say with confidence,
‘The Lord is my helper;
   I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?’

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. ⁹Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food,^* which have not benefited those who observe them. ¹⁰We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent^* have no right to eat. ¹¹For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. ¹²Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. ¹³Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. ¹⁴For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. ¹⁵Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. ¹⁶Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.