Psalm 49:16-20

New International Version

¹⁶Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
¹⁷for they will take nothing^(A) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.^(B)
¹⁸Though while they live they count themselves blessed—^(C)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
¹⁹they will join those who have gone before them,^(D)
    who will never again see the light^(E) of life.

²⁰People who have wealth but lack understanding^(F)
are like the beasts that perish.^(G)

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Proverbs 11:19-21

New International Version

¹⁹Truly the righteous attain life,^(A)
but whoever pursues evil finds death.^(B)

²⁰The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,^(C)
but he delights^(D) in those whose ways are blameless.^(E)

²¹Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.^(F)

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Mark 3:7-19

New International Version

Crowds Follow Jesus^(A)

⁷Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.^(B) ⁸When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.^(C) ⁹Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. ¹⁰For he had healed many,^(D) so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.^(E) ¹¹Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”^(F) ¹²But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.^(G)

Jesus Appoints the Twelve^(H)

¹³Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.^(I) ¹⁴He appointed twelve^[a]^(J) that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵and to have authority to drive out demons.^(K) ¹⁶These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),^(L) ¹⁷James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), ¹⁸Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot ¹⁹and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

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Footnotes

Mark 3:14 Some manuscripts twelve—designating them apostles—

Romans 15:23-33

New International Version

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

²³But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,^(A) ²⁴I plan to do so when I go to Spain.^(B) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist^(C) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. ²⁵Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem^(D) in the service^(E) of the Lord’s people^(F) there. ²⁶For Macedonia^(G) and Achaia^(H) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.^(I) ²⁷They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.^(J) ²⁸So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain^(K) and visit you on the way. ²⁹I know that when I come to you,^(L) I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

³⁰I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,^(M) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.^(N) ³¹Pray that I may be kept safe^(O) from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution^(P) I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people^(Q) there, ³²so that I may come to you^(R) with joy, by God’s will,^(S) and in your company be refreshed.^(T) ³³The God of peace^(U) be with you all. Amen.