Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

^12-13 The Lord is laughing at those who plot against the godly, for he knows their judgment day is coming. ¹⁴ Evil men take aim to slay the poor; they are ready to butcher those who do right. ¹⁵ But their swords will be plunged into their own hearts, and all their weapons will be broken.

¹⁶ It is better to have little and be godly than to own an evil man’s wealth; ¹⁷ for the strength of evil men shall be broken, but the Lord takes care of those he has forgiven.^[a]

¹⁸ Day by day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men,^[b] and gives them eternal rewards. ¹⁹ He cares for them when times are hard; even in famine, they will have enough. ²⁰ But evil men shall perish. These enemies of God will wither like grass and disappear like smoke. ²¹ Evil men borrow and “cannot pay it back”! But the good man returns what he owes with some extra besides. ²² Those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by him shall die.

¹⁴ Finally the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. ¹⁵ The letter instructed Joab to put Uriah at the front of the hottest part of the battle—and then pull back and leave him there to die! ¹⁶ So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the besieged city where he knew that the enemies’ best men were fighting; ¹⁷ and Uriah was killed along with several other Israeli soldiers.

¹⁸ When Joab sent a report to David of how the battle was going, ^19-21 he told his messenger, “If the king is angry and asks, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls? Wasn’t Abimelech killed at Thebez by a woman who threw down a millstone on him?’—then tell him, ‘Uriah was killed too.’”

¹⁰ How grateful I am and how I praise the Lord that you are helping me again. I know you have always been anxious to send what you could, but for a while you didn’t have the chance. ¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; ¹³ for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power. ¹⁴ But even so, you have done right in helping me in my present difficulty.

¹⁵ As you well know, when I first brought the Gospel to you and then went on my way, leaving Macedonia, only you Philippians became my partners in giving and receiving. No other church did this. ¹⁶ Even when I was over in Thessalonica you sent help twice. ¹⁷ But though I appreciate your gifts, what makes me happiest is the well-earned reward you will have because of your kindness.

¹⁸ At the moment I have all I need—more than I need! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me when Epaphroditus came. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that pleases God well. ¹⁹ And it is he who will supply all your needs from his riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us. ²⁰ Now unto God our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Sincerely, Paul