Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
12 The wicked (A)plots against the righteous
and (B)gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord (C)laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his (D)day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and (E)bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose (F)way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their (G)bows shall be broken.
16 (H)Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For (I)the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord (J)upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord (K)knows the days of the blameless,
and their (L)heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in (M)the days of famine they have abundance.
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 shall you say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. 27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and (A)she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
Paul's Plan to Visit Rome
22 This is the reason why (A)I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and (B)since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go (C)to Spain, and (D)to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, (E)I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For (F)Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed (G)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 blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,[a] I will leave (H)for Spain by way of you. 29 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, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by (I)the love of the Spirit, (J)to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 (K)that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that (L)my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and (M)be refreshed in your company. 33 May (N)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.