Psalm 37:12-22

New International Version

¹²The wicked plot^(A) against the righteous
and gnash their teeth^(B) at them;
¹³but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.^(C)

¹⁴The wicked draw the sword^(D)
    and bend the bow^(E)
to bring down the poor and needy,^(F)
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
¹⁵But their swords will pierce their own hearts,^(G)
    and their bows will be broken.^(H)

¹⁶Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth^(I) of many wicked;
¹⁷for the power of the wicked will be broken,^(J)
but the Lord upholds^(K) the righteous.

¹⁸The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,^(L)
and their inheritance will endure forever.^(M)
¹⁹In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

²⁰But the wicked will perish:^(N)
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.^(O)

²¹The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;^(P)
²²those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses^(Q) will be destroyed.^(R)

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2 Samuel 11:22-27

New International Version

²²The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. ²³The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate. ²⁴Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.”

²⁵David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab.”

²⁶When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. ²⁷After the time of mourning^(A) was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased^(B) the Lord.

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Romans 15:22-33

New International Version

²²This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.^(A)

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,^(B) ²⁴I plan to do so when I go to Spain.^(C) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist^(D) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. ²⁵Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem^(E) in the service^(F) of the Lord’s people^(G) there. ²⁶For Macedonia^(H) and Achaia^(I) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.^(J) 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.^(K) ²⁸So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain^(L) and visit you on the way. ²⁹I know that when I come to you,^(M) 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,^(N) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.^(O) ³¹Pray that I may be kept safe^(P) from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution^(Q) I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people^(R) there, ³²so that I may come to you^(S) with joy, by God’s will,^(T) and in your company be refreshed.^(U) ³³The God of peace^(V) be with you all. Amen.