Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;(A)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,(B)
    my soul and body(C) with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish(D)
    and my years by groaning;(E)
my strength fails(F) because of my affliction,[a](G)
    and my bones grow weak.(H)
11 Because of all my enemies,(I)
    I am the utter contempt(J) of my neighbors(K)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;(L)
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,(M)
    “Terror on every side!”(N)
They conspire against me(O)
    and plot to take my life.(P)

14 But I trust(Q) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times(R) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine(S) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.(T)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:10 Or guilt

11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all(A) the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”(B)

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

12 So he(C) sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome(D) features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed(E) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord(F) came powerfully upon David.(G) Samuel then went to Ramah.

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Paul and Timothy,(A) servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people(B) in Christ Jesus at Philippi,(C) together with the overseers(D) and deacons[a]:(E)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(F)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I thank my God every time I remember you.(G) In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray(H) with joy because of your partnership(I) in the gospel from the first day(J) until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion(K) until the day of Christ Jesus.(L)

It is right(M) for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart(N) and, whether I am in chains(O) or defending(P) and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify(Q) how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love(R) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,(S) 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,(T) 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness(U) that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:1 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.

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