Psalm 123-124

New International Version

Psalm 123

A song of ascents.

¹I lift up my eyes to you,
    to you who sit enthroned^(A) in heaven.
²As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
    as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord^(B) our God,
    till he shows us his mercy.

³Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
    for we have endured no end of contempt.
⁴We have endured no end
    of ridicule from the arrogant,
    of contempt from the proud.

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹If the Lord had not been on our side—
    let Israel say^(C)—
²if the Lord had not been on our side
    when people attacked us,
³they would have swallowed us alive
    when their anger flared against us;
⁴the flood^(D) would have engulfed us,
    the torrent^(E) would have swept over us,
⁵the raging waters
    would have swept us away.

⁶Praise be to the Lord,
    who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
⁷We have escaped like a bird
    from the fowler’s snare;^(F)
the snare has been broken,^(G)
    and we have escaped.
⁸Our help is in the name^(H) of the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven^(I) and earth.

Colossians 4

New International Version

4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,^(A) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

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

Final Greetings

⁷Tychicus^(L) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant^[a]^(M) 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.^(N) ⁹He is coming with Onesimus,^(O) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.^(P) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

¹⁰My fellow prisoner Aristarchus^(Q) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,^(R) the cousin of Barnabas.^(S) (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^(T) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹²Epaphras,^(U) who is one of you^(V) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,^(W) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature^(X) and fully assured. ¹³I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea^(Y) and Hierapolis. ¹⁴Our dear friend Luke,^(Z) the doctor, and Demas^(AA) send greetings. ¹⁵Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,^(AB) and to Nympha and the church in her house.^(AC)

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

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

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