The Blessing and Suffering of the Godly

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

^8 (A)And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

¹⁰ Now ^[a]may He who ^(C)supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, ^[b]supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your ^(D)righteousness, ¹¹ while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, ^(E)which causes thanksgiving through us to God. ¹² For the administration of this service not only ^(F)supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, ¹³ while, through the proof of this ministry, they ^(G)glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal ^(H)sharing with them and all men, ¹⁴ and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding ^(I)grace of God in you.

³⁵ I have shown you in every way, ^(A)by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, ^(A)inherit the kingdom ^(B)prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ^35 (C)for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; ^(D)I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was ^(E)naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; ^(F)I was in prison and you came to Me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

¹³ For ^(A)judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown ^(B)no ^(C)mercy. ^(D)Mercy triumphs over judgment.

¹⁰ For ^(A)God is not unjust to forget ^(B)your work and ^[a]labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ^(C)ministered to the saints, and do minister.