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Psalm 32

1  Happy the one whose transgression is forgiven, ♦︎
   and whose sin is covered.
2  Happy the one to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, ♦︎
   and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3  For I held my tongue; ♦︎
   my bones wasted away
      through my groaning all the day long.
4  Your hand was heavy upon me day and night; ♦︎
   my moisture was dried up like the drought in summer.
5  Then I acknowledged my sin to you ♦︎
   and my iniquity I did not hide.
6  I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ ♦︎
   and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
7  Therefore let all the faithful make their prayers to you
      in time of trouble; ♦︎
   in the great water flood, it shall not reach them.
8  You are a place for me to hide in;
      you preserve me from trouble; ♦︎
   you surround me with songs of deliverance.

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
   but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
   but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.
¹⁰ There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way,
   but one who hates a rebuke will die.
¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
   how much more human hearts!
²⁴ For the wise the path of life leads upwards,
   in order to avoid Sheol below.
²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
   but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
²⁶ Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
   but gracious words are pure.
²⁷ Those who are greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households,
   but those who hate bribes will live.
²⁸ The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,
   but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
   but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
   and good news refreshes the body.
³¹ The ear that heeds wholesome admonition
   will lodge among the wise.
³² Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
   but those who heed admonition gain understanding.
³³ The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
   and humility goes before honour.

THE SECOND LETTER OF PAUL TO THE

Corinthians

Salutation

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s Thanksgiving after Affliction

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, ⁴who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. ⁵For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. ⁶If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. ⁷Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

8 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,^* of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. ⁹Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. ¹⁰He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again, ¹¹as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our^* behalf for the blessing granted to us through the prayers of many.