Wisdom of Solomon 13
The Futility of False Gods
1 For all men while ignorant of God were useless in their condition. So from the good things that are seen They were unable to know Him who exists, Nor did they know the Craftsman by paying attention to His works.†
2 But they supposed that the gods who rule the world Were either fire or wind or swift air, Or the circle of the stars or violent water or the luminaries of heaven.
3 If while delighting in their beauty men assumed them to be gods, Let them know how much better than these things is their Lord, For the Creator of beauty created them;†
4 And if they were amazed at their power and working, Let them understand from them How much more powerful than these is He who made them.
5 For from the greatness and beauty of created things The Creator is seen by analogy.†
6 Nevertheless there is little reason for complaint against them, For perhaps they go astray while seeking God and wish to find Him.†
7 For as they live among His works, they examine them closely And are persuaded by what they see, Because the things they see are beautiful.
8 However, they are not to be excused;†
9 For if they were able to know so much With their ability to investigate the world, How is it possible they did not quickly find The Lord of all these things?
10 But they are miserable, and so are their hopes in dead things, Those who call “gods” the works of men’s hands, Gold, silver, and the practice of craftsmanship, And the likeness of animals, Or a worthless stone of an ancient hand.
11 But also, if some carpenter saws down an easily moved tree And skillfully scrapes away all its bark, He then builds a useful vessel beautifully made by his skill For the service of the living,†
12 And uses up the cast-off pieces of his trade To prepare his food and be filled.
13 But a cast-off piece from among them, useful for nothing, That grew up with the tree, crooked and full of knots, He takes and carves with care in his leisure And forms it with intelligent skill, And models it in the likeness of a man.
14 Or he likens it to some worthless animal And smears it with bright red paint, Making its surface red, Covering every blemish in it with paint.
15 Then he makes a room fitting for it And puts it on a wall and fastens it with iron nails That it may not fall.
16 He takes care of it, knowing that it cannot help itself; For it is an image that has need of help.
17 When he prays about his possessions, His marriage and his children, He is not ashamed to speak to a lifeless thing, And he appeals to a weak thing concerning his health.
18 Concerning life he prays to something dead; Concerning aid he supplicates something ignorant; And concerning a journey, something that cannot take a step;
19 Concerning means of livelihood, Profit and success with his hands; He requests bodily strength From something powerless with its hands.
Psalms 149
1 Alleluia. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His holy ones.
2 Let Israel be glad in Him who made him, And let the children of Zion greatly rejoice in their King.
3 Let them praise His name with dance; With tambourine and harp let them sing to Him;
4 For the Lord is pleased with His people, And He shall exalt the gentle with salvation.
5 The holy ones shall boast in glory, And they shall greatly rejoice on their beds;
6 The high praise of God shall be in their mouth And a two-edged sword in their hand,
7 To deal retribution to the nations, Reproving among the peoples,
8 To shackle their kings with chains And their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 To fulfill among them the written judgment: This glory have all His holy ones.
Proverbs of Solomon 31
21 She makes a double upper garment for her husband And garments of fine linen and purple for herself.
22 Her husband is respected at the gates And when he sits in council with the elders who inhabit the land.
23 She makes and sells fine linens And girdles to the Canaanites.
24 She opens her mouth carefully and lawfully And controls her tongue.
25 She clothes herself with strength and dignity And rejoices in the last days.
Acts 9
Saul’s First Preaching
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.†
24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
Saul in Jerusalem
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.†
30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.†
Peter in Gentile Judea
32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.
33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.
34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.†
35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.†
36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.
37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.†
41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
43 So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.