Psalm 69:29-33

New International Version

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

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

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Proverbs 15:18-19

New International Version

¹⁸A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,^(A)
but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.^(B)

¹⁹The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,^(C)
but the path of the upright is a highway.

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Mark 14:43-52

New International Version

Jesus Arrested^(A)

⁴³Just as he was speaking, Judas,^(B) one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

⁴⁴Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!”^(C) and kissed him. ⁴⁶The men seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁴⁸“Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts,^(D) and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”^(E) ⁵⁰Then everyone deserted him and fled.^(F)

⁵¹A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, ⁵²he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

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2 Corinthians 8:1-15

New International Version

The Collection for the Lord’s People

8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian^(A) churches. ²In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.^(B) ³For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,^(C) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing^(D) in this service^(E) to the Lord’s people.^(F) ⁵And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. ⁶So we urged^(G) Titus,^(H) just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion^(I) this act of grace on your part. ⁷But since you excel in everything^(J)—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,^(K) in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you^[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

⁸I am not commanding you,^(L) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹For you know the grace^(M) of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(N) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,^(O) so that you through his poverty might become rich.^(P)

¹⁰And here is my judgment^(Q) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.^(R) ¹¹Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness^(S) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹²For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,^(T) not according to what one does not have.

¹³Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,^(U) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, ¹⁵as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”^[b]^(V)