⁷ For the king trusts in the Lord. Because of the loving-kindness of the Most High, he will not be shaken. ⁸ Your hand will find all who fight against You. Your right hand will find those who hate You. ⁹ You will make them like a stove of fire in the time of Your anger. The Lord will eat them up in His anger. And the fire will destroy them. ¹⁰ You will destroy their children from the earth, and their sons from the children of men. ¹¹ For they planned much trouble against You. They have made sinful plans that will come to nothing. ¹² For You will make them turn their backs when You take up Your bow against them. ¹³ Be honored in Your strength, O Lord. We will sing and praise Your power.

²⁵ Let your eyes look straight in front of you, and keep looking at what is in front of you. ²⁶ Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or to the left. Turn your foot away from sin.

The Picture-Stories of the Gold Buried in the Field and of Buying a Pearl

⁴⁴ “The holy nation of heaven is like a box of riches buried in a field. A man found it and then hid it again. In his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the holy nation of heaven is like a man who buys and sells. He is looking for good pearls. ⁴⁶ When he finds one good pearl worth much money, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

The Picture-Story of the Fish Net

⁴⁷ “The holy nation of heaven is like a big net which was let down into the sea. It gathered fish of every kind. ⁴⁸ When it was full, they took it to the shore. They sat down and put the good fish into pails. They threw the bad fish away. ⁴⁹ It will be like this in the end of the world. Angels will come and take the sinful people from among those who are right with God. ⁵⁰ They will put the sinful people into a stove of fire where there will be loud crying and grinding of teeth.”

⁵¹ Jesus asked them, “Have you understood all these picture-stories?” They said, “Yes, Lord!” ⁵² He said to them, “Every teacher of the Law who has become a follower of the holy nation of heaven is like a man who owns his house. He takes new and old riches from his house.”

Paul Starts Out the Second Time

³⁶ After awhile, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the Christians in every city where we have preached the Word of God. Let us see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. ³⁸ Paul did not think it was good to take him because he had left them while they were in Pamphylia. He had not helped them in the work. ³⁹ They argued so much that they left each other. Barnabas took John Mark with him and went by ship to the island of Cyprus. ⁴⁰ Paul chose Silas. After the Christians asked for the Lord’s favor to be on Paul and Silas, they went on their way. ⁴¹ They went through Syria and Cilicia making the churches stronger in the faith.