Psalm 60

Prayer in Difficult Times

For the choir director: according to “The Lily of Testimony.”^(A) A Miktam of David for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in Salt Valley, killing twelve thousand.^(B)

The Parable of the Talents

¹⁴ “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey.^(A) He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents,^[a] to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey.^(B) Immediately ¹⁶ the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. ¹⁷ In the same way the man with two earned two more. ¹⁸ But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’

²¹ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’^(C)

²² “The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’

²³ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’

²⁴ “The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed.^{(D) 25} So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

²⁶ “His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant!^(E) If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, ²⁷ then^[b] you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money^[c] back with interest when I returned.

²⁸ “‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.^{(F) 30} And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness,^(G) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Sufficient Grace

12 Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions^(A) and revelations^(B) of the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who was caught up^(C) to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. ³ I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows— ⁴ was caught up into paradise^(D) and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. ⁵ I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

⁶ For if I want to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool, because I would be telling the truth.^(E) But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, ⁷ especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh^(F) was given to me, a messenger of Satan^(G) to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. ⁸ Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power^(H) is perfected in weakness.”^(I)

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. ¹⁰ So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ.^(J) For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(K)

Signs of an Apostle

¹¹ I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.^{(L) 12} The signs^(M) of an apostle^(N) were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders^(O) and miracles.^{(P) 13} So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong!

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹⁴ Look, I am ready to come to you this third time.^(Q) I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. ¹⁵ I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.^[a](R) If I love you more, am I to be loved less? ¹⁶ Now granted, I did not burden^(S) you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!^{(T) 17} Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus^(U) to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit^(V) and in the same footsteps?

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.^{(W) 20} For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling,^(X) jealousy,^(Y) angry outbursts, selfish ambitions,^(Z) slander,^(AA) gossip, arrogance, and disorder.^{(AB) 21} I fear that when I come my God will again^[b] humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented^(AC) of the moral impurity, sexual immorality,^(AD) and sensuality^(AE) they practiced.