19 You know how I am scorned,(A) 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,(B) but I found none.(C)
21 They put gall in my food
    and gave me vinegar(D) for my thirst.(E)

22 May the table set before them become a snare;
    may it become retribution and[a] a trap.(F)
23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
    and their backs be bent forever.(G)
24 Pour out your wrath(H) on them;
    let your fierce anger overtake them.
25 May their place be deserted;(I)
    let there be no one to dwell in their tents.(J)
26 For they persecute those you wound
    and talk about the pain of those you hurt.(K)
27 Charge them with crime upon crime;(L)
    do not let them share in your salvation.(M)
28 May they be blotted out of the book of life(N)
    and not be listed with the righteous.(O)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 69:22 Or snare / and their fellowship become

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(A)

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.(B)

17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.(C)

Read full chapter

Gethsemane(A)

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John(B) along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,”(C) he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour(D) might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[a] Father,”(E) he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup(F) from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”(G)

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.(H) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(I)

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour(J) has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:36 Aramaic for father

Therefore, since we have these promises,(A) dear friends,(B) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness(C) out of reverence for God.

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

Make room for us in your hearts.(D) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts(E) that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.(F) I am greatly encouraged;(G) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.(H)

For when we came into Macedonia,(I) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn(J)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.(K) But God, who comforts the downcast,(L) comforted us by the coming of Titus,(M) and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter,(N) I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation(O) and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,(P) what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you,(Q) it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong(R) nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus(S) was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you,(T) and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus(U) has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient,(V) receiving him with fear and trembling.(W) 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.(X)

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends