Psalm 61^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

David’s Victories^(A)

8 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines^(B) and subdued^(C) them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.

² David also defeated the Moabites.^(D) He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.^(E)

³ Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer^(F) son of Rehob, king of Zobah,^(G) when he went to restore his monument at^[a] the Euphrates^(H) River. ⁴ David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers^[b] and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung^(I) all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

⁵ When the Arameans of Damascus^(J) came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. ⁶ He put garrisons^(K) in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject^(L) to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.^(M)

⁷ David took the gold shields^(N) that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From Tebah^[c] and Berothai,^(O) towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.

⁹ When Tou^[d] king of Hamath^(P) heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,^{(Q) 10} he sent his son Joram^[e] to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.

¹¹ King David dedicated^(R) these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: ¹² Edom^[f](S) and Moab,^(T) the Ammonites^(U) and the Philistines,^(V) and Amalek.^(W) He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ And David became famous^(X) after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites^[g] in the Valley of Salt.^(Y)

¹⁴ He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites^(Z) became subject to David.^(AA) The Lord gave David victory^(AB) wherever he went.^(AC)

David’s Officials^(AD)

¹⁵ David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right^(AE) for all his people. ¹⁶ Joab^(AF) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat^(AG) son of Ahilud was recorder;^{(AH) 17} Zadok^(AI) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar^(AJ) were priests; Seraiah was secretary;^{(AK) 18} Benaiah^(AL) son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites^(AM) and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.^[h]

¹⁷ From Miletus,^(A) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders^(B) of the church. ¹⁸ When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,^(C) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.^{(D) 19} I served the Lord with great humility and with tears^(E) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.^{(F) 20} You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything^(G) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have declared to both Jews^(H) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance^(I) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.^(J)

²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,^(K) not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me^(L) that prison and hardships are facing me.^{(M) 24} However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(N) my only aim is to finish the race^(O) and complete the task^(P) the Lord Jesus has given me^(Q)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(R)

²⁵ “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom^(S) will ever see me again.^{(T) 26} Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.^{(U) 27} For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.^{(V) 28} Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(W) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(X) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a](Y) which he bought^(Z) with his own blood.^{[b](AA) 29} I know that after I leave, savage wolves^(AB) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.^{(AC) 30} Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples^(AD) after them. ³¹ So be on your guard! Remember that for three years^(AE) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.^(AF)

³² “Now I commit you to God^(AG) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance^(AH) among all those who are sanctified.^{(AI) 33} I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(AJ) 34} You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^{(AK) 35} In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶ When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.^{(AL) 37} They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.^{(AM) 38} What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.^(AN) Then they accompanied him to the ship.^(AO)