But aboutmidnightPauland Silaswere prayingand singing hymns of praiseto God,and the prisonerswere listeningto them;
"But noone says,'Whereis Godmy Maker,Who givessongsin the night,
O LORD,I rememberYour namein the night,And keepYour law.
At midnightI shall riseto givethanksto You Becauseof Your righteousordinances.
O my God,I cryby day,but You do not answer;And by night,but I have norest.
I will blessthe LORDat alltimes;His praiseshall continuallybe in my mouth.
The LORDwill commandHis lovingkindnessin the daytime;And His songwill be with me in the night,A prayerto the Godof my life.
Callupon Me in the dayof trouble;I shall rescueyou, and you will honorMe."
I have becomea marvelto many,For You are my strongrefuge.
In the dayof my troubleI soughtthe Lord;In the nightmy handwas stretchedout withoutweariness;My soulrefusedto be comforted.
I will remembermy songin the night;I will meditatewith my heart,And my spiritponders:
"He will callupon Me, and I will answerhim; I will be with him in trouble;I will rescuehim and honorhim.
You will havesongsas in the nightwhen you keepthe festival,And gladnessof heartas when one marchesto [the sound of] the flute,To goto the mountainof the LORD,to the Rockof Israel.
Nowlisten,Joshuathe highpriest,you and your friendswho are sittingin frontof you-- indeedthey are menwho are a symbol,for behold,I am going to bringin My servantthe Branch.
And beingin agonyHe was prayingveryfervently;and His sweatbecamelikedropsof blood,falling downupon the ground.
Thenit seemed goodto the apostlesand the elders,with the wholechurch,to choosemenfrom amongthem to sendto Antiochwith Pauland Barnabas--JudascalledBarsabbas,and Silas,leadingmenamongthe brethren,
But when her masterssawthat their hopeof profitwas gone,they seizedPauland Silasand draggedthem into the market placebeforethe authorities,
And he tookthem that [very] hourof the nightand washedtheir wounds,and immediatelyhe was baptized,he and allhis [household].
Sothey went on their wayfrom the presenceof the Council,rejoicingthat they had been considered worthyto suffershamefor [His] name.
rejoicingin hope,perseveringin tribulation,devotedto prayer,
And not onlythis, but we alsoexultin our tribulations,knowingthat tribulationbrings aboutperseverance;
as sorrowfulyetalwaysrejoicing,as pooryetmakingmanyrich,as havingnothingyetpossessingall things.
speakingto one anotherin psalmsand hymnsand spiritualsongs,singingand making melodywith your heartto the Lord;
But evenifI am being poured out as a drink offeringupon the sacrificeand serviceof your faith,I rejoiceand share my joywith you all.
NowI rejoicein my sufferingsfor your sake,and in my fleshI do my shareon behalfof His body,whichis the church,in fillingup whatis lackingin Christ'safflictions.
In the daysof His flesh,He offeredup bothprayersand supplicationswith loudcryingand tearsto the One ableto saveHim from death,and He was heardbecauseof His piety.
Considerit alljoy,my brethren,whenyou encountervarioustrials,
Is anyoneamongyou suffering?[Then] he must pray.Is anyonecheerful?He is to sing praises.
Ifyou are reviledfor the nameof Christ,you are blessed,becausethe Spiritof gloryand of Godrestson you.
