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97  Lord, how I love your law! ♦︎
   All the day long it is my study.
98  Your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies, ♦︎
   for they are ever with me.
99  I have more understanding than all my teachers, ♦︎
   for your testimonies are my meditation.
100  I am wiser than the aged, ♦︎
   because I keep your commandments.
101  I restrain my feet from every evil way, ♦︎
   that I may keep your word.
102  I have not turned aside from your judgements, ♦︎
   for you have been my teacher.
103  How sweet are your words on my tongue! ♦︎
   They are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
104  Through your commandments I get understanding; ♦︎
   therefore I hate all lying ways.
105  Your word is a lantern to my feet ♦︎
   and a light upon my path.
106  I have sworn and will fulfil it, ♦︎
   to keep your righteous judgements.
107  I am troubled above measure; ♦︎
   give me life, O Lord, according to your word.
108  Accept the freewill offering of my mouth, O Lord, ♦︎
   and teach me your judgements.
109  My soul is ever in my hand, ♦︎
   yet I do not forget your law.
110  The wicked have laid a snare for me, ♦︎
   but I have not strayed from your commandments.
111  Your testimonies have I claimed as my heritage for ever; ♦︎
   for they are the very joy of my heart.
112  I have applied my heart to fulfil your statutes: ♦︎
   always, even to the end.
113  I hate those who are double-minded, ♦︎
   but your law do I love.
114  You are my hiding place and my shield ♦︎
   and my hope is in your word.
115  Away from me, you wicked! ♦︎
   I will keep the commandments of my God.
116  Sustain me according to your promise, that I may live, ♦︎
   and let me not be disappointed in my hope.
117  Hold me up and I shall be saved, ♦︎
   and my delight shall be ever in your statutes.
118  You set at nought those who depart from your statutes, ♦︎
   for their deceiving is in vain.
119  You consider all the wicked as dross; ♦︎
   therefore I love your testimonies.
120  My flesh trembles for fear of you ♦︎
   and I am afraid of your judgements.

8 I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. ⁹For you know the generous act^* of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. ¹⁰And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something— ¹¹now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. ¹²For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. ¹³I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between ¹⁴your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. ¹⁵As it is written,
‘The one who had much did not have too much,
   and the one who had little did not have too little.’