Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹² The sinful man plans against him who is right with God. And he grinds his teeth at him. ¹³ The Lord laughs at him because He sees his day is coming. ¹⁴ The sinful have taken up their sword and their bow, to bring down the poor and those in need, and to kill those whose ways are right. ¹⁵ Their sword will cut into their own heart, and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶ The few things that the man right with God has is better than the riches of many sinful men. ¹⁷ For the arms of the sinful will be broken. But the Lord holds up those who are right with Him. ¹⁸ The Lord knows the days of those who are without blame. And what is theirs will last forever. ¹⁹ They will not be ashamed in the time of trouble. And in days when there is no food they will have enough. ²⁰ But the sinful will be lost forever. Those who hate the Lord will be like the beauty of the fields. They will be gone. Like smoke they will be gone. ²¹ The sinful ask for something, but do not return it. But those who are right with God are kind and give. ²² For those who are made happy by Him will be given the land. But those who are being punished by Him will be cut off.

²² So the man left and came to David. He told him all that Joab had sent him to tell. ²³ The man said to David, “The men were winning the fight against us. They came out against us in the field. But we drove them back as far as the city gate. ²⁴ Then they shot arrows at your servants from the wall. So some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” ²⁵ Then David said to the man, “Tell Joab, ‘Do not let this thing trouble you. For the sword kills one as well as another. Make your battle against the city stronger and destroy it.’ Comfort him with these words.”

²⁶ When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she was filled with sorrow for him. ²⁷ When the time of sorrow was finished, David sent men and brought her to his house. She became his wife, and gave birth to his son. But what David had done was sinful in the eyes of the Lord.

²² This is why I have been kept many times from coming to you. ²³ But now I am finished with my work here. I have been wanting to come and visit you for many years. ²⁴ I hope I can now. I am making plans to go to the country of Spain. On my way there I will stop and visit you. After I have had the joy of visiting you for awhile, you can help me on my way again. ²⁵ But now I am going to Jerusalem to hand the Christians the gift of money. ²⁶ The churches in the countries of Macedonia and Greece have decided to give money to help some of the poor Christians in Jerusalem. ²⁷ They wanted to do it. They should help them in this way because they owe much to the Christians in Jerusalem. The Jews shared the Good News with the people who are not Jews. For this reason, they should share what they can with the Jews. ²⁸ I will hand this gift of money to them. Then I will stop to see you on my way to the country of Spain. ²⁹ I know that when I come to you, Christ will give me much good to share with you.

³⁰ I ask you from my heart, Christian brothers, to pray much for me. I ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ³¹ Pray that God will keep me safe from the people in the country of Judea who are not Christians. Pray also that the work I am to do for the Christians in Jerusalem will help them. ³² Then I will be coming to you if God wants me to come. I will be full of joy, and together we can have some rest. ³³ May our God Who gives us peace, be with you all. Let it be so.