Psalm 119:129-136

New International Version

פ Pe

¹²⁹Your statutes are wonderful;^(A)
    therefore I obey them.^(B)
¹³⁰The unfolding of your words gives light;^(C)
    it gives understanding to the simple.^(D)
¹³¹I open my mouth and pant,^(E)
    longing for your commands.^(F)
¹³²Turn to me^(G) and have mercy^(H) on me,
    as you always do to those who love your name.^(I)
¹³³Direct my footsteps according to your word;^(J)
    let no sin rule^(K) over me.
¹³⁴Redeem me from human oppression,^(L)
    that I may obey your precepts.^(M)
¹³⁵Make your face shine^(N) on your servant
    and teach me your decrees.^(O)
¹³⁶Streams of tears^(P) flow from my eyes,
    for your law is not obeyed.^(Q)

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1 Kings 1:28-37

New International Version

David Makes Solomon King^(A)

²⁸Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

²⁹The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble,^(B) ³⁰I will surely carry out this very day what I swore^(C) to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

³¹Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

³²King David said, “Call in Zadok^(D) the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, ³³he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule^(E) and take him down to Gihon.^(F) ³⁴There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint^(G) him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet^(H) and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ ³⁵Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

³⁶Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. ³⁷As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with^(I) Solomon to make his throne even greater^(J) than the throne of my lord King David!”

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1 Corinthians 4:14-20

New International Version

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

¹⁴I am writing this not to shame you^(A) but to warn you as my dear children.^(B) ¹⁵Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father^(C) through the gospel.^(D) ¹⁶Therefore I urge you to imitate me.^(E) ¹⁷For this reason I have sent to you^(F) Timothy,^(G) my son^(H) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.^(I)

¹⁸Some of you have become arrogant,^(J) as if I were not coming to you.^(K) ¹⁹But I will come to you very soon,^(L) if the Lord is willing,^(M) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. ²⁰For the kingdom of God is not a matter of^(N) talk but of power.^(O)