Psalm 32

Of David. A maskil.^[a]

²¹ “As for me, this is my covenant^(U) with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit,^(V) who is on you, will not depart from you,^(W) and my words that I have put in your mouth^(X) will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty

¹⁵ You know that everyone in the province of Asia^(A) has deserted me,^(B) including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

¹⁶ May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,^(C) because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed^(D) of my chains.^{(E) 17} On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day!^(F) You know very well in how many ways he helped me^(G) in Ephesus.^(H)

The Appeal Renewed

2 You then, my son,^(I) be strong^(J) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say^(K) in the presence of many witnesses^(L) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ³ Join with me in suffering,^(M) like a good soldier^(N) of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown^(O) except by competing according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.^{(P) 7} Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,^(Q) descended from David.^(R) This is my gospel,^{(S) 9} for which I am suffering^(T) even to the point of being chained^(U) like a criminal. But God’s word^(V) is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything^(W) for the sake of the elect,^(X) that they too may obtain the salvation^(Y) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^(Z)

¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying:^(AA)

Divorce^(A)

10 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan.^(B) Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.^(C)

² Some Pharisees^(D) came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

³ “What did Moses command you?” he replied.

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”^(E)

⁵ “It was because your hearts were hard^(F) that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. ⁶ “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’^{[a](G) 7} ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,^{[b] 8} and the two will become one flesh.’^[c](H) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. ¹¹ He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.^{(I) 12} And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”^(J)

The Little Children and Jesus^(K)

¹³ People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.^{(L) 15} Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”^{(M) 16} And he took the children in his arms,^(N) placed his hands on them and blessed them.