Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
12 The wicked (A)plots against the righteous
And (B)gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord (C)laughs at him,
For He sees (D)his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and (E)bent their bow
To cast down the (F)afflicted and the needy,
To (G)slay those who are upright in conduct.
15 Their sword will enter their own heart,
And their (H)bows will be broken.
16 (I)Better is the little of the righteous
Than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the (J)arms of the wicked will be broken,
But the Lord (K)sustains the righteous.
18 The Lord (L)knows the days of the [a]blameless,
And their (M)inheritance will be forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
And (N)in the days of famine they will have abundance.
20 But the (O)wicked will perish;
And the enemies of the Lord will be like the [b]glory of the pastures,
They vanish—(P)like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not pay back,
But the righteous (Q)is gracious and gives.
22 For (R)those blessed by Him will (S)inherit the land,
But those (T)cursed by Him will be cut off.
14 Now in the morning David (A)wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 (B)He had written in the letter, saying, “[a]Place Uriah in the front line of the [b]fiercest battle and withdraw from him, (C)so that he may be struck down and die.” 16 So it was as Joab kept watch on the city, that he put Uriah at the place where he knew there were valiant men. 17 The men of the city went out and fought against Joab, and some of the people among David’s servants fell; and (D)Uriah the Hittite also died. 18 Then Joab sent and reported to David all the events of the war. 19 He charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling all the events of the war to the king, 20 and if it happens that the king’s wrath rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who (E)struck down Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”
God’s Provisions
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last (A)you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak [a]from want, for I have learned to be [b](B)content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going (C)hungry, both of having abundance and (D)suffering need. 13 I can do all things [c]through Him who (E)strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to (F)share with me in my affliction.
15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the [d](G)first preaching of the gospel, after I left (H)Macedonia, no church (I)shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in (J)Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 (K)Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the [e]profit which increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am [f]amply supplied, having received from (L)Epaphroditus [g]what you have sent, [h](M)a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 And (N)my God will supply [i]all your needs according to His (O)riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to (P)our God and Father (Q)be the glory [j]forever and ever. Amen.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.