Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 annotated

This translation is from the New American Bible. Other translations are available here. Information about the original Greek meaning of what seem to be the key words is provided in blue immediately below the scriptural text. Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected after the text of this reading.  

 

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R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

 

hears = שָׁמַע = šāmaʿ  Blue Letter Bible   listen to, obey; perceive by ear; to hear with attention or interest, listen to; give heed; to consent, agree; yield to; to obey, be obedient; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.); to hear and answer

 

cry = קָרָא = qārā'  Blue Letter Bible to call, cry, utter a loud sound; to proclaim; to read aloud, read (to oneself); the idea of accosting a person met; address by name; call; name, give name to; to call upon or to

 

poor = עָנִי = ʿānî  Blue Letter Bible  poor, afflicted, humble, wretched; weak; humble, lowly; depressed in mind or circumstances; needy; meek, mild; oppressed

 

bless = בָּרַךְ = bāraḵ  Blue Letter Bible to kneel; praise, salute; celebrate, adore

 

praise = תְּהִלָּה = tᵊhillâ  Blue Letter Bible  song, a hymn; adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God); laudation, glory

 

glory= הָלַל = halal  Blue Letter Bible   to shine; to flash forth light; to praise, boast, be boastful; be commended; glory; rave, celebrate; to be clear, to be brilliant; to sing; to make bright or shining

 

lowly = עָנָו = ʿānāv  Blue Letter Bible  poor, humble, afflicted, meek; lowly; miserable

 

hear—see “hears” above

 

be glad = שָׂמַח = samach Blue Letter Bible  to rejoice, be glad; to brighten up; blithe or gleesome; cheer up; to gladden, make joyful, exult 

 

just = צַדִּיק = ṣadîq Blue Letter Bible  lawful, righteous; righteous (in government); righteous (in conduct and character); righteous (as justified and vindicated by God); honest, virtuous, pious

 

cry out = צָעַק = ṣāʿaq  Blue Letter Bible call, cry for help, cry out, in distress, need; to make outcry, clamour;  to call together; to shriek

 

hears—see above

 

distress = צָרָה = ṣārâ  Blue Letter Bible  straits, distress, trouble; tightness; adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble; vexer, rival wife, adversary

 

rescues = נָצַל = nāṣal  Blue Letter Bible to snatch away, deliver, rescue; to be torn out or away; defend; preserve; draw out, pull out

 

close = קָרוֹב = qārôḇ Blue Letter Bible  at hand, nigh, intimate, present

 

brokenhearted = שָׁבַר = šāḇar  Blue Letter Bible to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked, crushed; to break, break in pieces; break, break in or down, rend violently, wreck, crush, quench; rupture; shattered; destroyed, hurt, quenched; thoroughly broken; fractured of limb; maimed, crippled 

 

crushed = דַּכָּא = dakā'  Blue Letter Bible  crushed (literally powder, or figuratively, contrite); pulverized; broken very small, cast down

 

saves = יָשַׁע = yāšaʿ  Blue Letter Bible  to be liberated, be saved, be delivered; to save from moral troubles; to give victory to; to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; to free or succor; defend, help, preserve, rescue; be capacious, make wide, spacious, make sufficient, be or live in abundance; placed in freedom; give width and breadth to, liberate; save from evils and troubles; to be opulent; to set free, preserve

 

redeems = פָּדָה = pāḏâ  Blue Letter Bible   to ransom, redeem, rescue, deliver; to release, preserve; loose, set free; let go

 

servants = עֶבֶד = ʿeḇeḏ  Blue Letter Bible  slave, servant, man-servant; bondman, (bond-) servant; servant of servants, the lowest servant

 

incurs guilt = אָשַׁם = 'āšam Blue Letter Bible  to offend, be guilty, trespass; do wrong, commit an offense, do injury; to be held guilty, to be incriminated; to suffer punishment, bear one’s guilt; to be desolate, acknowledge offense; fail in duty; punished; laid waste; inflict punishment; requital, fault, guilt, mulct; be or become guilty; declare them guilty

 

takes refuge = חָסָה = ḥāsâ  Blue Letter Bible  flee for protection; to put trust in (God), confide or hope in (God); to confide in:—have hope, trust

 

Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:

 

Wisdom Principles--True Piety

 

Wisdom Principles--God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him 

 

Wisdom Principles--Caring for the weak and Vulnerable

 

       Wisdom Principles--God loves Humility and Hates Pride

Revelation 5:11-14 annotated

This translation is from the New American Bible. Other translations are available here.  Information about the original Greek meaning of what seem to be the key words is provided in blue immediately below the scriptural text. Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected after the text of this reading.  

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I, John, looked and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, and they cried out in a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.”
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: “To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever.”
The four living creatures answered, “Amen,”  and the elders fell down and worshiped.

 

many = πολύς = polys Blue Letter Bible Great, much, many, great; Oft, Often, Oftener, Oftentimes; plenteous; numerous, abundant; strong, intense; long; in many ways, with many words; many times, often, repeatedly; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Many; frequent; long; very much; Intensity, much, mighty; strong necessity; with full stream; for a long time; in no small degree; Georg Autenrieth, A Homeric Dictionary  much, many, with numerous applications

 

countless = μυριάς = myrias. Blue Letter Bible   innumerable; a myriad, a numberless host; an innumerable multitude, an unlimited number; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   numberless, countless, infinite; measureless, immense;  boundless

 

loud = μέγας = megas. Blue Letter Bible  high, mighty; persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power; things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance; things to be esteemed highly for their importance; a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent; splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately; God's preeminent blessings; strong; large; used of intensity and its degrees; distinguished; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  mighty; strong; of great importance; impressive; big; full grown; vast, high; very much, exceedingly

 

voice = φωνή = phōnē  Blue Letter Bible  a sound, a tone, of inanimate things, as musical instruments; a voice; speech; a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   sound, tone; the sound of the voice, whether of men or animals with lungs and throat; speech, voice, utterance; cry; any articulate sound

 

worthy = ἄξιος = axios  Blue Letter Bible weight, value, worth, weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much; befitting, becoming, right on the ground of fitness, befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing; of one who has merited anything worthy, deserving; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon weighing as much, of like value, worth as much as; worthy, goodly;  deserved, meet, due; sufficient for; worthy of, deserving

 

slain = σφάζω = sphazō  Blue Letter Bible   to slay, slaughter, butcher; to put to death by violence; mortally wounded; to maim (violently); smitten unto death;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   slay, slaughter, torment  

 

power = δύναμις = dynamis  Blue Letter Bible  ability; force, inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; moral power and excellence of soul; might; power for performing miracles;  R. Trench, New Testament Synonyms  outcomings of that mighty power of God; powers being by Him lent to those who were his witnesses and ambassadors; pointing ... to new and higher forces ... which have entered and are working in this lower world of ours; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  might; strength, power, ability to do anything; influence, authority; faculty, capacity

 

riches = πλοῦτος = ploutos. Blue Letter Bible riches, wealth; fulness, plenitude; valuable bestowment; the excellence in which one abounds; fullness of perfection; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  wealth, riches, treasure  

 

wisdom = σοφία = sophia  Blue Letter Bible  wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters; shrewdness and cunning;  discourse conformed to philosophy and the art of rhetoric; knowledge of things human and divine, acquired by acuteness and experience, and summed up in maxims and proverbs; science and learning; intelligence evinced in discovering the meaning of some mysterious number or vision; skill in the management of affairs; devout and proper prudence in intercourse with men not disciples of Christ, skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth; knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living; supreme intelligence, such as belongs to God; the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation and government of the world and the scriptures; an acquaintance with divine things and human duties, joined to a power of discoursing concerning them and of interpreting and applying sacred Scripture;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   cleverness or skill; sound judgement, intelligence, practical wisdom; cunning, shrewdness, craft; learning

 

strength = ἰσχύς = ischys  Blue Letter Bible   might, strength, power; ability, force, strength; forcefulness; power (over external things) afforded by strength; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   strength of body; might, power; brute force; motive force, vigor  

 

honor = τιμή = time   Blue Letter Bible  valuing; preciousness; a valuing by which the price is fixed; the honour which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds; deference, reverence; esteem, a thing prized; the honor of one who outranks others, pre-eminence; the honor which one has by reason of the rank and state of the office which he holds; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  worship, esteem, honour; due regard; dignity; prerogative or special attribute; worth, value, price

 

glory = δόξα = doxa  Blue Letter Bible opinion, judgment, view, estimate; splendour, brightness; magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace; majesty; most exalted state; honor; absolute perfection; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  the opinion which others have of one, estimation, repute; good repute, honour, glory; glory, splendor, magnificence, celestial beatitude

 

blessing = εὐλογία = eulogia  Blue Letter Bible   good speaking, praise; fair speaking, flattering speech; elegance of language; commendation, praise, laudation, panegyric; fine discourse, polished language; fair speaking, fine speeches ; an invocation of blessing, benediction; consecration; a (concrete) blessing, benefit; bounty; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   good or fine language; praise, eulogy; blessing called down or bestowed; gift, bounty

cry out = λέγω = legō  Blue Letter Bible to say, to ask; commanding, or bidding; to call, to call by name; pronouncing, telling or relating; to gather, reckon, account; to tell;  affirm over, maintain; to exhort, advise, to command, direct; to call by name, to call, name; to "lay" forth; to asseverate, affirm, aver, maintain; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon  to say, speak; declare; to tell one to do; to speak to the point or purpose; to speak (emphatically)

 

might = κράτος = kratos  Blue Letter Bible  dominion; force, strength, might; manifested power; mighty with great power; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  strength, might, bodily strength; rule, sovereignty; possession of; mastery, victory

amen = ἀμήν = amēn  Blue Letter Bible   verily, surely, truly, of a truth; most assuredly; so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled; It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues into the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed had offered up a solemn prayer to God, the others in attendance responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon   verily, of a truth, so be it  

 

fell down = πίπτω = piptō  Blue Letter Bible to fall; losing its authority or ceasing to have force; to reduce to inactivity; to faint; to "fall" down from; to descend from a higher place to a lower; overcome by terror or astonishment; used of suppliants and persons rendering homage or worship to one; to lose authority, no longer have force; to be thrust down; to be cast down from a state of prosperity; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  fall down, and (when intentional) cast oneself down; throw oneself down, fall down; sink

worshiped= προσκυνέω = proskyneō  Blue Letter Bible  to make obeisance, do reverence to; an act of homage or reverence; to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence; to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence; kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication; homage shown to men and beings of superior rank: absolutely; do reverence to, adore;  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon  make obeisance to; do reverence to; prostrating oneself before kings and superiors

Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15 annotated

This translation is from the New American Bible. Other translations are available here. Information about the original Hebrew meaning of what seem to be the key words is provided in blue immediately below the scriptural text. 

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R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

 

Create = בָּרָא = bārā' Blue Letter Bible To shape, form, fashion; to feed, make fat; to cut, carve, form by cutting; produce

 

clean = טָהוֹר = ṭâôr Blue Letter Bible Pure, fair; clear; unmixed, unalloyed, unpolluted

 

heart= לֵב = lēḇ Blue Letter Bible inner man, mind, will, understanding; midst; soul; mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory; inclination, resolution, determination (of will); conscience; seat of appetites, emotions, passions, courage; feelings, the will and even the intellect; the center of anything

Numbers 6:22-27 annotated

This translation is from the New American Bible. Other translations are available here. Information about the original Hebrew meaning of what seem to be the key words is provided in blue immediately below the scriptural text. Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected after the text of this reading.  

 

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The LORD said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:  
This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them:  
The LORD bless you and keep you!  
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!  
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

said, Speak = דָּבַר = dabar  Blue Letter Bible  to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing; to speak with one another, talk; answer; pronounce; teach; use (entreaties), utter; to lead, to guide; to direct a people; admonish; to speak kindly, console; to speak friendly, peaceably with anyone; to announce welfare; appoint; bid; commune; promise; tell; bring into order, subdue; speak with, by, or by means of a person; speak of, about

 

tell = אָמַר = 'āmar  Blue Letter Bible  certify; declare; command, promise, to intend; to avow, to avouch; bear forth, bring to light; to speak, utter; say in one's heart, think 

 

bless = בָּרַךְ = bāraḵ  Blue Letter Bible to kneel; praise, salute; celebrate, adore, congratulate; adore, adore with bended knee; pay homage; cause to prosper, prospered by God; be adored; invoke God; ask for a blessing

 

Say—see “tell” above

 

bless—see above 

 

keep = שָׁמַר = šāmar  Blue Letter Bible  to keep, guard, observe, give heed; retain, treasure up (in memory); preserve; attend to; have charge of; keep watch and ward; protect; take heed, take care, beware; hedge about; be circumspect; regard 

face = פָּנִים = paniym   Blue Letter Bible  person; countenance; before and behind, toward, in front of; in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of; turned toward; turn one’s face toward; on account of; acts done with a solemn sense of presence; to stand before, i.e. wait upon, be in attendance on; to bow down before; in front of

shine = אוֹר = 'ôr  Blue Letter Bible  to illumine, light up, cause to shine, shine; to be or become light, shine; to be illuminated; to become lighted up 

upon = אֵל = 'ēl  Blue Letter Bible   to, unto (of motion); direction, not necessarily physical motion; concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of; in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to); in among; denoting motion towards; tens to anything; verge to or towards any place; turning or direction; even to; in respect to; because of; concerning; the direction of the mind; concerning; according to; motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or among; the direction of the mind; directed or disposed towards; 

 

be gracious = חָנַן = ḥānan   Blue Letter Bible   to be gracious, show favour, pity; have mercy on; be shown consideration; to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; considering and sparing; 

 

look upon  = נָשָׂא = nāśā' Blue Letter Bible  to lift, bear up, carry, take;  to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure; bear continuously; suffer, bear with; take away sin/punishment, expiate; pardon; forgive; accept; take, receive, take hold of; lift up the soul to; accept the person of; receive prayer; be favorable to; have respect to as a petitioner; lift up to oneself; help, aid

 

give=  שׂוּם = suwm  Blue Letter Bible  to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give; to put, place, set, appoint, make; ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix; set in place, plant, fix; cast in; steadfastly; prepare; station; ay (violent) hands on; cast in; convey; heap up; set in array; to propound, explain; direct, turn; render; prepare; direct toward, pay attention to; put in position

 

peace = שָׁלוֹם = šālôm  Blue Letter Bible  completeness, soundness, welfare, peace; safety; health, prosperity; quiet, tranquility, contentment; friendship, concord

 

invoke—see “give” above

name = שֵׁם = šēm  Blue Letter Bible  name; reputation, fame, glory; honor, authority, character; renown, report; memorial, monument

 

upon = עַל = ʿal  Blue Letter Bible   upon; beside; in addition to; together with; with; beyond, over (of excess); above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence); around (of contiguity or proximity); down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion); state of resting on; wearing or clothed with; something superadded; covering, protecting; surpassing, going beyond; a cause of; unto or towards; burden; incumbent on; in the manner of, in accordance with; elevation or pre-eminence; together with

 

Bless—see above

 

Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:

Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin  

Wisdom Principles--God’s Ways Give Security 

Wisdom Principles--We Should Strive to Live in God’s Presence   

Wisdom Principles--God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him