Psalm 85:8-13

New International Version

⁸I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace^(A) to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.^(B)
⁹Surely his salvation^(C) is near those who fear him,
    that his glory^(D) may dwell in our land.

¹⁰Love and faithfulness^(E) meet together;
    righteousness^(F) and peace kiss each other.
¹¹Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness^(G) looks down from heaven.
¹²The Lord will indeed give what is good,^(H)
    and our land will yield^(I) its harvest.
¹³Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

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Amos 3:1-12

New International Version

Witnesses Summoned Against Israel

3 Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you^(A)—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:^(B)

²“You only have I chosen^(C)
of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish^(D) you
for all your sins.^(E)”

³Do two walk together
    unless they have agreed to do so?
⁴Does a lion roar^(F) in the thicket
    when it has no prey?^(G)
Does it growl in its den
    when it has caught nothing?
⁵Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground
    when no bait^(H) is there?
Does a trap spring up from the ground
    if it has not caught anything?
⁶When a trumpet^(I) sounds in a city,
    do not the people tremble?
When disaster^(J) comes to a city,
    has not the Lord caused it?^(K)

⁷Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
without revealing his plan^(L)
to his servants the prophets.^(M)

⁸The lion^(N) has roared^(O)—
who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken—
who can but prophesy?^(P)

⁹Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod^(Q)
    and to the fortresses of Egypt:
“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria;^(R)
    see the great unrest within her
    and the oppression among her people.”

¹⁰“They do not know how to do right,^(S)” declares the Lord,
“who store up in their fortresses^(T)
what they have plundered^(U) and looted.”

¹¹Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,
pull down your strongholds
and plunder your fortresses.^(V)”

¹²This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s^(W) mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric^[a] from a couch.^[b]^(X)”

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Footnotes

Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.

Colossians 4:2-18

New International Version

Further Instructions

²Devote yourselves to prayer,^(A) being watchful and thankful. ³And pray for us, too, that God may open a door^(B) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery^(C) of Christ, for which I am in chains.^(D) ⁴Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵Be wise^(E) in the way you act toward outsiders;^(F) make the most of every opportunity.^(G) ⁶Let your conversation be always full of grace,^(H) seasoned with salt,^(I) so that you may know how to answer everyone.^(J)

Final Greetings

⁷Tychicus^(K) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant^[a]^(L) in the Lord. ⁸I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our^[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.^(M) ⁹He is coming with Onesimus,^(N) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.^(O) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

¹⁰My fellow prisoner Aristarchus^(P) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,^(Q) the cousin of Barnabas.^(R) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) ¹¹Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews^[c] among my co-workers^(S) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹²Epaphras,^(T) who is one of you^(U) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,^(V) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature^(W) and fully assured. ¹³I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea^(X) and Hierapolis. ¹⁴Our dear friend Luke,^(Y) the doctor, and Demas^(Z) send greetings. ¹⁵Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,^(AA) and to Nympha and the church in her house.^(AB)

¹⁶After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read^(AC) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

¹⁷Tell Archippus:^(AD) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”^(AE)

¹⁸I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(AF) Remember^(AG) my chains.^(AH) Grace be with you.^(AI)

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