Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹² The wicked plotteth against the righteous, and gnasheth his teeth against him.

¹³ The Lord laugheth at him; for he seeth that his day is coming.

¹⁴ The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the afflicted and needy, to slay those that are upright in [the] way:

¹⁵ their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

¹⁶ The little that the righteous hath is better than the abundance of many wicked;

¹⁷ for the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.

¹⁸ Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; and their inheritance shall be for ever:

¹⁹ they shall not be ashamed in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

²⁰ For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume, like smoke shall they consume away.

²¹ The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; but the righteous is gracious and giveth:

²² for those blessed of him shall possess the land, and they that are cursed of him shall be cut off.

²² And the messenger went; and he came and told David all that Joab had sent him for.

²³ And the messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us, and came out against us into the field, and we were upon them as far as the entrance of the gate.

²⁴ And the shooters shot from upon the wall against thy servants; and some of the king's servants are dead, and thy servant Urijah the Hittite is dead also.

²⁵ Then David said to the messenger, Thus shalt thou say to Joab: Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devours one as well as another: make thy battle strong against the city, and overthrow it;—and encourage him.

²⁶ And the wife of Urijah heard that Urijah her husband was dead, and she mourned for her husband.

²⁷ And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of Jehovah.

²² Wherefore also I have been often hindered from coming to you.

²³ But now, having no longer place in these regions, and having great desire to come to you these many years,

²⁴ whenever I should go to Spain; (for I hope to see you as I go through, and by you to be set forward thither, if first I shall have been in part filled with your company;)

²⁵ but now I go to Jerusalem, ministering to the saints;

²⁶ for Macedonia and Achaia have been well pleased to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints who [are] in Jerusalem.

²⁷ They have been well pleased indeed, and they are their debtors; for if the nations have participated in their spiritual things, they ought also in fleshly to minister to them.

²⁸ Having finished this therefore, and having sealed to them this fruit, I will set off by you into Spain.

²⁹ But I know that, coming to you, I shall come in [the] fulness of [the] blessing of Christ.

³⁰ But I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in prayers for me to God;

³¹ that I may be saved from those that do not believe in Judaea; and that my ministry which [I have] for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints;

³² in order that I may come to you in joy by God's will, and that I may be refreshed with you.

³³ And the God of peace be with you all. Amen.