Psalm 140 - Romans 15 - Romans 16

Psalm 140

1> Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man;

2Those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.

3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper's poison is under their lips. Selah.

4Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.

5The proud have hidden a snare for me, They have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah.

6I said to Yahweh, "You are my God." Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh.

7Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.

8Yahweh, don't grant the desires of the wicked. Don't let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.

9As for the head of those who surround me, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, Into miry pits, from where they never rise.

11An evil speaker won't be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And justice for the needy.

13Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.

The People of the Kingdom

Romans 15

1Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. 3For even Christ didn't please himself. But, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." 4For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus, 6that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Therefore receive one another, even as Christ also received you,{TR reads "us" instead of "you"} to the glory of God. 8Now I say that Christ has been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles, And sing to your name." 10Again he says, "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people." 11Again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Let all the peoples praise him." 12Again, Isaiah says, "There will be the root of Jesse, He who arises to rule over the Gentiles; On him will the Gentiles hope." 13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. 14I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others. 15But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God, 16that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. 18For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God's Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ; 20yes, making it my aim to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another's foundation. 21But, as it is written, "They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven't heard will understand." 22Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you, 23but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you, 24whenever I journey to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. 26For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. 27Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things. 28When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29I know that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. 30Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints; 32that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest. 33Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans 16

1I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant{literally, deacon} of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, 2that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self. 3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4who for my life, laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles. 5Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ. 6Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. 13Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} who are with them. 15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you. 17Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. 18For those who are such don't serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent. 19For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil. 20And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 21Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. 22I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord. 23Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother. 24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen. 25{See Romans 14:23} 26{See Romans 14:23} 27{See Romans 14:23} {TR places Romans 14:24-26 at the end of Romans instead of at the end of chapter 14, and numbers these verses 16:25-27.}