Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
12 Evil men plot against the godly[a]
and viciously attack them.[b]
13 The Lord laughs in disgust[c] at them,
for he knows that their day is coming.[d]
14 Evil men draw their swords
and prepare their bows,
to bring down[e] the oppressed and needy,
and to slaughter those who are godly.[f]
15 Their swords will pierce[g] their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than
the wealth of many evil men,[h]
17 for evil men will lose their power,[i]
but the Lord sustains[j] the godly.
18 The Lord watches over the innocent day by day,[k]
and they possess a permanent inheritance.[l]
19 They will not be ashamed when hard times come;[m]
when famine comes they will have enough to eat.[n]
20 But[o] evil men will die;
the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated[p]—
they will go up in smoke.[q]
21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt,
but the godly show compassion and are generous.[r]
22 Surely[s] those favored by the Lord[t] will possess the land,
but those rejected[u] by him will be wiped out.[v]
22 So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him. 23 The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and attacked us[a] in the field. But we forced them to retreat[b] all the way to the door of the city gate. 24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king’s soldiers[c] died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.” 25 David said to the messenger, “Tell Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing upset you.[d] There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down.[e] Press the battle against the city and conquer[f] it.’ Encourage him with these words.”[g]
26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him.[h] 27 When the time of mourning passed, David had her brought to his palace.[i] She became his wife and she bore him a son. But what David had done upset the Lord.[j]
Paul’s Intention of Visiting the Romans
22 This is the reason I was often hindered from coming to you. 23 But now there is nothing more to keep me[a] in these regions, and I have for many years desired[b] to come to you 24 when I go to Spain. For I hope to visit you when I pass through and that you will help me[c] on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25 But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do this, and indeed they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints.[d] For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them,[e] I will set out for Spain by way of you, 29 and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.
30 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters,[f] through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf. 31 Pray[g] that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in 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. 33 Now may the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.[h]
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