Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) and Timothy(C) our brother,

To the church of God(D) in Corinth,(E) together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:(F)

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

Praise to the God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(H) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us(I) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,(J) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;(K) if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,(L) so also you share in our comfort.

We do not want you to be uninformed,(M) brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced(N) in the province of Asia.(O) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,(P) who raises the dead.(Q) 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,(R) and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope(S) that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers.(T) Then many will give thanks(U) on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Paul’s Change of Plans

12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience(V) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[b](W) and godly sincerity.(X) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom(Y) but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.(Z)

15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you(AA) first so that you might benefit twice.(AB) 16 I wanted to visit you on my way(AC) to Macedonia(AD) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way(AE) to Judea.(AF) 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner(AG) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

18 But as surely as God is faithful,(AH) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God,(AI) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas[c](AJ) and Timothy(AK)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always(AL) been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises(AM) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”(AN) is spoken by us to the glory of God.(AO) 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm(AP) in Christ. He anointed(AQ) us, 22 set his seal(AR) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(AS)

23 I call God as my witness(AT)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you(AU) that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over(AV) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.(AW)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:8 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 8:1; 13:11.
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Many manuscripts holiness
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas

Psalm 69[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.

Save me, O God,
    for the waters(A) have come up to my neck.(B)
I sink in the miry depths,(C)
    where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
    the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help;(D)
    my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,(E)
    looking for my God.
Those who hate me(F) without reason(G)
    outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,(H)
    those who seek to destroy me.(I)
I am forced to restore
    what I did not steal.

You, God, know my folly;(J)
    my guilt is not hidden from you.(K)

Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    may those who hope in you
    not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
    may those who seek you
    not be put to shame because of me.
For I endure scorn(L) for your sake,(M)
    and shame covers my face.(N)
I am a foreigner to my own family,
    a stranger to my own mother’s children;(O)
for zeal for your house consumes me,(P)
    and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.(Q)
10 When I weep and fast,(R)
    I must endure scorn;
11 when I put on sackcloth,(S)
    people make sport of me.
12 Those who sit at the gate(T) mock me,
    and I am the song of the drunkards.(U)

13 But I pray to you, Lord,
    in the time of your favor;(V)
in your great love,(W) O God,
    answer me with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mire,
    do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
    from the deep waters.(X)
15 Do not let the floodwaters(Y) engulf me
    or the depths swallow me up(Z)
    or the pit close its mouth over me.(AA)

16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;(AB)
    in your great mercy turn to me.
17 Do not hide your face(AC) from your servant;
    answer me quickly,(AD) for I am in trouble.(AE)
18 Come near and rescue me;
    deliver(AF) me because of my foes.

19 You know how I am scorned,(AG) disgraced and shamed;
    all my enemies are before you.
20 Scorn has broken my heart
    and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
    for comforters,(AH) but I found none.(AI)
21 They put gall in my food
    and gave me vinegar(AJ) for my thirst.(AK)

22 May the table set before them become a snare;
    may it become retribution and[b] a trap.(AL)
23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
    and their backs be bent forever.(AM)
24 Pour out your wrath(AN) on them;
    let your fierce anger overtake them.
25 May their place be deserted;(AO)
    let there be no one to dwell in their tents.(AP)
26 For they persecute those you wound
    and talk about the pain of those you hurt.(AQ)
27 Charge them with crime upon crime;(AR)
    do not let them share in your salvation.(AS)
28 May they be blotted out of the book of life(AT)
    and not be listed with the righteous.(AU)

29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
    may your salvation, God, protect me.(AV)

30 I will praise God’s name in song(AW)
    and glorify him(AX) with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox,
    more than a bull with its horns and hooves.(AY)
32 The poor will see and be glad(AZ)
    you who seek God, may your hearts live!(BA)
33 The Lord hears the needy(BB)
    and does not despise his captive people.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
    the seas and all that move in them,(BC)
35 for God will save Zion(BD)
    and rebuild the cities of Judah.(BE)
Then people will settle there and possess it;
36     the children of his servants will inherit it,(BF)
    and those who love his name will dwell there.(BG)

Psalm 70[c](BH)

For the director of music. Of David. A petition.

Hasten, O God, to save me;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.(BI)

May those who want to take my life(BJ)
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
    be turned back in disgrace.(BK)
May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”(BL)
    turn back because of their shame.
But may all who seek you(BM)
    rejoice and be glad(BN) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”(BO)

But as for me, I am poor and needy;(BP)
    come quickly to me,(BQ) O God.
You are my help(BR) and my deliverer;(BS)
    Lord, do not delay.(BT)

Psalm 71(BU)

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(BV)
    let me never be put to shame.(BW)
In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear(BX) to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.(BY)
Deliver(BZ) me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,(CA)
    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.(CB)

For you have been my hope,(CC) Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence(CD) since my youth.
From birth(CE) I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.(CF)
    I will ever praise(CG) you.
I have become a sign(CH) to many;
    you are my strong refuge.(CI)
My mouth(CJ) is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor(CK) all day long.

Do not cast(CL) me away when I am old;(CM)
    do not forsake(CN) me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies(CO) speak against me;
    those who wait to kill(CP) me conspire(CQ) together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken(CR) him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue(CS) him.”
12 Do not be far(CT) from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help(CU) me.
13 May my accusers(CV) perish in shame;(CW)
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.(CX)

14 As for me, I will always have hope;(CY)
    I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will tell(CZ) of your righteous deeds,(DA)
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,(DB) Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught(DC) me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.(DD)
18 Even when I am old and gray,(DE)
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power(DF) to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.(DG)

19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,(DH)
    you who have done great things.(DI)
    Who is like you, God?(DJ)
20 Though you have made me see troubles,(DK)
    many and bitter,
    you will restore(DL) my life again;
from the depths of the earth(DM)
    you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor(DN)
    and comfort(DO) me once more.

22 I will praise you with the harp(DP)
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,(DQ)
    Holy One of Israel.(DR)
23 My lips will shout for joy(DS)
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.(DT)
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,(DU)
for those who wanted to harm me(DV)
    have been put to shame and confusion.(DW)

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

Endow the king with your justice,(DX) O God,
    the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness,(DY)
    your afflicted ones with justice.

May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
    the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May he defend the afflicted(DZ) among the people
    and save the children of the needy;(EA)
    may he crush the oppressor.(EB)
May he endure[d](EC) as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon, through all generations.(ED)
May he be like rain(EE) falling on a mown field,
    like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish(EF)
    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

May he rule from sea to sea
    and from the River[e](EG) to the ends of the earth.(EH)
May the desert tribes bow before him
    and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish(EI) and of distant shores(EJ)
    bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba(EK) and Seba
    present him gifts.(EL)
11 May all kings bow down(EM) to him
    and all nations serve(EN) him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
    the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity(EO) on the weak and the needy
    and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue(EP) them from oppression and violence,
    for precious(EQ) is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!
    May gold from Sheba(ER) be given him.
May people ever pray for him
    and bless him all day long.(ES)
16 May grain(ET) abound throughout the land;
    on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops(EU) flourish like Lebanon(EV)
    and thrive[f] like the grass of the field.(EW)
17 May his name endure forever;(EX)
    may it continue as long as the sun.(EY)

Then all nations will be blessed through him,[g]
    and they will call him blessed.(EZ)

18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,(FA)
    who alone does marvelous deeds.(FB)
19 Praise be to his glorious name(FC) forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.(FD)
Amen and Amen.(FE)

20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.(FF)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 69:1 In Hebrew texts 69:1-36 is numbered 69:2-37.
  2. Psalm 69:22 Or snare / and their fellowship become
  3. Psalm 70:1 In Hebrew texts 70:1-5 is numbered 70:2-6.
  4. Psalm 72:5 Septuagint; Hebrew You will be feared
  5. Psalm 72:8 That is, the Euphrates
  6. Psalm 72:16 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text Lebanon, / from the city
  7. Psalm 72:17 Or will use his name in blessings (see Gen. 48:20)

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