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Psalm 14

1  The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ ♦︎
   Corrupt are they, and abominable in their wickedness;
      there is no one that does good.
2  The Lord has looked down from heaven
      upon the children of earth, ♦︎
   to see if there is anyone who is wise
      and seeks after God.
3  But every one has turned back;
      all alike have become corrupt: ♦︎
   there is none that does good; no, not one.
4  Have they no knowledge, those evildoers, ♦︎
   who eat up my people as if they ate bread
      and do not call upon the Lord?
5  There shall they be in great fear; ♦︎
   for God is in the company of the righteous.
6  Though they would confound the counsel of the poor, ♦︎
   yet the Lord shall be their refuge.
7  O that Israel’s salvation would come out of Zion! ♦︎
   When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
      then will Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand foot-soldiers, as well as the king of Maacah, one thousand men, and the men of Tob, twelve thousand men. ⁷When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army with the warriors. ⁸The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate; but the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the open country.

9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel, and arrayed them against the Arameans; ¹⁰the rest of his men he put in charge of his brother Abishai, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. ¹¹He said, ‘If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. ¹²Be strong, and let us be courageous for the sake of our people, and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him.’

12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. ¹³Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord^* has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ^* dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.^{* 17}And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.