¹⁷ And David said to God, “Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these ^(A)sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me and my father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”

⁶³ that you may ^(A)remember and be ashamed, ^(B)and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,” says the Lord God.’ ”

The Outworking of Love

^16 (A)By this we know love, ^(B)because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

³ For ^(A)I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my ^[a]countrymen according to the flesh,

^11 (A)“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ¹² But a ^[a]hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and ^(B)leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

⁷ ‘And they shall take away some of your ^(A)sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”

⁸ So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, ^(B)“The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “At least there will be peace and truth in my days.”

A Plea for Relief from Oppressors

A ^[a]Contemplation of Asaph.