Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him.(A)
13 The Lord laughs at him(B)
because He sees that his day is coming.(C)
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the[a] bow
to bring down the afflicted and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.(D)
15 Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.(E)
16 The little that the righteous man has is better
than the abundance of many wicked people.(F)
17 For the arms[b] of the wicked will be broken,(G)
but the Lord supports the righteous.(H)
18 The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.(I)
19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.(J)
20 But the wicked will perish;
the Lord’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away—
they will fade away like smoke.(K)
22 Then the messenger left.
When he arrived, he reported to David all that Joab had sent him to tell. 23 The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the gate. 24 However, the archers shot down on your soldiers from the top of the wall, and some of the king’s soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”
25 David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him.”
26 When Uriah’s(A) wife heard that her husband Uriah had died, she mourned for him.[a] 27 When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, the Lord considered what David had done to be evil.(B)
Paul’s Travel Plans
22 That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you.(A) 23 But now I no longer have any work to do in these provinces,[a] and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you(B) 24 whenever I travel to Spain.[b] For I hope to see you when I pass through, and to be assisted by you for my journey there,(C) once I have first enjoyed your company(D) for a while. 25 Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem(E) to serve the saints,(F) 26 for Macedonia(G) and Achaia[c](H) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits,(I) then they are obligated to minister to Jews in material needs. 28 So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds[d] to them,(J) I will visit you on the way to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing[e] of Christ.
30 Now I appeal to you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit,(K) to join with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf.(L) 31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea,(M) that the gift I am bringing to[f] Jerusalem(N) may be acceptable to the saints,(O) 32 and that, by God’s will,(P) I may come to you with joy(Q) and be refreshed together with you.
33 The God of peace be with all of you.(R) Amen.
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