Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them,(A)
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that their day is coming.(B)
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to kill those who walk uprightly;(C)
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.(D)
16 Better is a little that the righteous person has
than the abundance of many wicked.(E)
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.(F)
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will abide forever;(G)
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.(H)
20 But the wicked perish,
and the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.(I)
22 So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell. 23 The messenger said to David, “The men gained an advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. 24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall; some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” 25 David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another; press your attack on the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him.(A) 27 When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son.
Nathan Condemns David
But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord,(B)
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
22 This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you(A) 24 when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints,(B) 26 for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.(C) 27 They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them, for if the gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things.(D) 28 So, when I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,[a] I will set out by way of you to Spain, 29 and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing[b] of Christ.
30 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf,(E) 31 that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my ministry[c] to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.(F) 33 The God of peace be with all of you.[d] Amen.(G)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.