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Psalm 144

Prayer for National Deliverance and Security

Of David.
¹ Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
   who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;
² my rock^* and my fortress,
   my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
   who subdues the peoples^* under me.

³ O Lord, what are human beings that you regard them,
   or mortals that you think of them?
⁴ They are like a breath;
   their days are like a passing shadow.

⁵ Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
   touch the mountains so that they smoke.
⁶ Make the lightning flash and scatter them;
   send out your arrows and rout them.
⁷ Stretch out your hand from on high;
   set me free and rescue me from the mighty waters,
   from the hand of aliens,
⁸ whose mouths speak lies,
   and whose right hands are false.

⁹ I will sing a new song to you, O God;
   upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
¹⁰ the one who gives victory to kings,
   who rescues his servant David.
¹¹ Rescue me from the cruel sword,
   and deliver me from the hand of aliens,
whose mouths speak lies,
   and whose right hands are false.

¹² May our sons in their youth
   be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars,
   cut for the building of a palace.
¹³ May our barns be filled
   with produce of every kind;
may our sheep increase by thousands,
   by tens of thousands in our fields,
¹⁴   and may our cattle be heavy with young.
May there be no breach in the walls,^* no exile,
   and no cry of distress in our streets.

¹⁵ Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall;
   happy are the people whose God is the Lord.

David’s Adversaries

16When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth^* met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, carrying two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred bunches of raisins, one hundred of summer fruits, and one skin of wine. ²The king said to Ziba, ‘Why have you brought these?’ Ziba answered, ‘The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who faint in the wilderness.’ ³The king said, ‘And where is your master’s son?’ Ziba said to the king, ‘He remains in Jerusalem; for he said, “Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.” ’ ⁴Then the king said to Ziba, ‘All that belonged to Mephibosheth^* is now yours.’ Ziba said, ‘I do obeisance; let me find favour in your sight, my lord the king.’

Shimei Curses David

5 When King David came to Bahurim, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out whose name was Shimei son of Gera; he came out cursing. ⁶He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; now all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. ⁷Shimei shouted while he cursed, ‘Out! Out! Murderer! Scoundrel! ⁸The Lord has avenged on all of you the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, disaster has overtaken you; for you are a man of blood.’

9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, ‘Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.’ ¹⁰But the king said, ‘What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, “Curse David”, who then shall say, “Why have you done so?” ’ ¹¹David said to Abishai and to all his servants, ‘My own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord has bidden him. ¹²It may be that the Lord will look on my distress,^* and the Lord will repay me with good for this cursing of me today.’ ¹³So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, throwing stones and flinging dust at him. ¹⁴The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary at the Jordan;^* and there he refreshed himself.

The Counsel of Ahithophel

15 Now Absalom and all the Israelites^* came to Jerusalem; Ahithophel was with him. ¹⁶When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, ‘Long live the king! Long live the king!’ ¹⁷Absalom said to Hushai, ‘Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?’ ¹⁸Hushai said to Absalom, ‘No; but the one whom the Lord and this people and all the Israelites have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. ¹⁹Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I have served your father, so I will serve you.’

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, ‘Give us your counsel; what shall we do?’ ²¹Ahithophel said to Absalom, ‘Go in to your father’s concubines, the ones he has left to look after the house; and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.’ ²²So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. ²³Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle^* of God; so all the counsel of Ahithophel was esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.

4¹Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. ³At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, ⁴so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.

5 Conduct yourselves wisely towards outsiders, making the most of the time.^{* 6}Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

Final Greetings and Benediction

7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow-servant^* in the Lord. ⁸I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are^* and that he may encourage your hearts; ⁹he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

10 Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. ¹¹And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. ¹²Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant^* of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. ¹³For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. ¹⁴Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. ¹⁵Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters^* in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. ¹⁶And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷And say to Archippus, ‘See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.’

18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.^*

Psalm 145

The Greatness and the Goodness of God

Praise. Of David.
¹ I will extol you, my God and King,
   and bless your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will bless you,
   and praise your name for ever and ever.
³ Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
   his greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall laud your works to another,
   and shall declare your mighty acts.
⁵ On the glorious splendour of your majesty,
   and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
⁶ The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
   and I will declare your greatness.
⁷ They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
   and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

⁸ The Lord is gracious and merciful,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ The Lord is good to all,
   and his compassion is over all that he has made.

¹⁰ All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
   and all your faithful shall bless you.
¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
   and tell of your power,
¹² to make known to all people your^* mighty deeds,
   and the glorious splendour of your^* kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
   and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words,
   and gracious in all his deeds.^*
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling,
   and raises up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
   and you give them their food in due season.
¹⁶ You open your hand,
   satisfying the desire of every living thing.
¹⁷ The Lord is just in all his ways,
   and kind in all his doings.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call on him,
   to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfils the desire of all who fear him;
   he also hears their cry, and saves them.
²⁰ The Lord watches over all who love him,
   but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
   and all flesh will bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Obadiah

Proud Edom Will Be Brought Low

1 The vision of Obadiah.

Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom:
We have heard a report from the Lord,
   and a messenger has been sent among the nations:
‘Rise up! Let us rise against it for battle!’
² I will surely make you least among the nations;
   you shall be utterly despised.
³ Your proud heart has deceived you,
   you that live in the clefts of the rock,^*
   whose dwelling is in the heights.
You say in your heart,
   ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’
⁴ Though you soar aloft like the eagle,
   though your nest is set among the stars,
   from there I will bring you down,

says the Lord.

Pillage and Slaughter Will Repay Edom’s Cruelty

⁵ If thieves came to you,
   if plunderers by night
   —how you have been destroyed!—
   would they not steal only what they wanted?
If grape-gatherers came to you,
   would they not leave gleanings?
⁶ How Esau has been pillaged,
   his treasures searched out!
⁷ All your allies have deceived you,
   they have driven you to the border;
your confederates have prevailed against you;
   those who ate^* your bread have set a trap for you—
   there is no understanding of it.
⁸ On that day, says the Lord,
   I will destroy the wise out of Edom,
   and understanding out of Mount Esau.
⁹ Your warriors shall be shattered, O Teman,
   so that everyone from Mount Esau will be cut off.

Edom Wronged His Brother

¹⁰ For the slaughter and violence done to your brother Jacob,
   shame shall cover you,
   and you shall be cut off for ever.
¹¹ On the day that you stood aside,
   on the day that strangers carried off his wealth,
and foreigners entered his gates
   and cast lots for Jerusalem,
   you too were like one of them.
¹² But you should not have gloated^* over^* your brother
   on the day of his misfortune;
you should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah
   on the day of their ruin;
you should not have boasted
   on the day of distress.
¹³ You should not have entered the gate of my people
   on the day of their calamity;
you should not have joined in the gloating over Judah’s^* disaster
   on the day of his calamity;
you should not have looted his goods
   on the day of his calamity.
¹⁴ You should not have stood at the crossings
   to cut off his fugitives;
you should not have handed over his survivors
   on the day of distress.

¹⁵ For the day of the Lord is near against all the nations.
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
   your deeds shall return on your own head.
¹⁶ For as you have drunk on my holy mountain,
   all the nations around you shall drink;
they shall drink and gulp down,^*
   and shall be as though they had never been.

Israel’s Final Triumph

¹⁷ But on Mount Zion there shall be those that escape,
   and it shall be holy;
and the house of Jacob shall take possession of those who dispossessed them.
¹⁸ The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
   the house of Joseph a flame,
   and the house of Esau stubble;
they shall burn them and consume them,
   and there shall be no survivor of the house of Esau;

for the Lord has spoken.
¹⁹ Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau,
   and those of the Shephelah the land of the Philistines;
they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria,
   and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
²⁰ The exiles of the Israelites who are in Halah^*
   shall possess^* Phoenicia as far as Zarephath;
and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
   shall possess the towns of the Negeb.
²¹ Those who have been saved^* shall go up to Mount Zion
   to rule Mount Esau;
   and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah^* took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. ²⁰But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ ²²All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
²³ ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
   and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ ²⁴When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, ²⁵but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;^* and he named him Jesus.