BOOK II

Psalms 42–72

Psalm 42^[a][b]

For the director of music. A maskil^[c] of the Sons of Korah.

Jethro Visits Moses

18 Now Jethro,^(A) the priest of Midian^(B) and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.^(C)

² After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,^(D) his father-in-law Jethro received her ³ and her two sons.^(E) One son was named Gershom,^[a] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;^{(F) 4} and the other was named Eliezer,^[b](G) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper;^(H) he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

⁵ Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain^(I) of God. ⁶ Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

⁷ So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down^(J) and kissed^(K) him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. ⁸ Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships^(L) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved^(M) them.

⁹ Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things^(N) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. ¹⁰ He said, “Praise be to the Lord,^(O) who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. ¹¹ Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods,^(P) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”^{(Q) 12} Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,^(R) brought a burnt offering^(S) and other sacrifices^(T) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal^(U) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence^(V) of God.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ I thank my God every time I remember you.^{(A) 4} In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray^(B) with joy ⁵ because of your partnership^(C) in the gospel from the first day^(D) until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion^(E) until the day of Christ Jesus.^(F)

⁷ It is right^(G) for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart^(H) and, whether I am in chains^(I) or defending^(J) and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸ God can testify^(K) how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love^(L) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,^{(M) 10} so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,^{(N) 11} filled with the fruit of righteousness^(O) that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[a] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[b] and to everyone else that I am in chains^(P) for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains,^(Q) most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.^(R)