David’s Family Enlarged

14 ^(A)Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons and carpenters, to build a house for him. ² And David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted, for the sake of His people Israel.

³ Then David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David ^[a]became the father of more sons and daughters. ^4 (B)These are the names of the children ^[b]born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, ⁶ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁷ Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.

Philistines Defeated

⁸ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them. ⁹ Now the Philistines had come and ^(C)made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁰ David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” Then the Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” ¹¹ So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David ^[c]defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place ^[d]Baal-perazim. ¹² They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire.

¹³ The Philistines made ^(D)yet another raid in the valley. ¹⁴ David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around ^[e]behind them and come at them in front of the ^[f]balsam trees. ¹⁵ It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” ¹⁶ David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines from ^[g]Gibeon even as far as Gezer. ¹⁷ Then the fame of David went out into all the lands; and ^(E)the Lord brought the fear of him on all the nations.

Keep Fervent in Your Love

4 Therefore, since ^(A)Christ has ^[a]suffered in the flesh, ^(B)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because ^(C)he who has ^[b]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ^2 (D)so as to live ^(E)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the ^(F)will of God. ³ For ^(G)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, ^[c](H)having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and ^[d]abominable idolatries. ⁴ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of ^(I)dissipation, and they ^(J)malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge ^(K)the living and the dead. ⁶ For ^(L)the gospel has for this purpose been ^[e]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

^7 (M)The end of all things ^[f]is near; therefore, ^(N)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of ^[g]prayer. ⁸ Above all, ^(O)keep fervent in your love for one another, because ^(P)love covers a multitude of sins. ^9 (Q)Be hospitable to one another without ^(R)complaint. ^10 (S)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good ^(T)stewards of the manifold grace of God. ^11 (U)Whoever speaks, is to do so ^[h]as one who is speaking the ^(V)utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving ^[i](W)by the strength which God supplies; so that ^(X)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, ^(Y)to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Share the Sufferings of Christ

^12 (Z)Beloved, do not be surprised at the ^(AA)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; ¹³ but to the degree that you ^(AB)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the ^(AC)revelation of His glory ^(AD)you may rejoice with exultation. ¹⁴ If you are reviled ^[j](AE)for the name of Christ, ^(AF)you are blessed, ^(AG)because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ Make sure that ^(AH)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a ^[k](AI)troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a ^(AJ)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to ^(AK)glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment ^(AL)to begin ^[l]with ^(AM)the household of God; and if it ^(AN)begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those ^(AO)who do not obey the ^(AP)gospel of God? ^18 (AQ)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, ^[m]what will become of the ^(AR)godless man and the sinner? ¹⁹ Therefore, those also who suffer according to ^(AS)the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.