The Collection for the Saints
1 Now concerning1 ethe collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On fthe first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, gas he may prosper, hso that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send ithose whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
Plans for Travel
5 jI will visit you after passing through kMacedonia, for lI intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may mhelp me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now njust in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, oif the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until pPentecost, 9 for qa wide door for effective work has opened to me, and rthere are many adversaries.
10 sWhen Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for the is doing uthe work of the Lord, as I am. 11 So vlet no one despise him. wHelp him on his way xin peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
Final Instructions
12 Now concerning your brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will2 to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.
13 zBe watchful, astand firm in the faith, bact like men, cbe strong. 14 dLet all that you do be done in love.
15 Now I urge you, brothers3—you know that ethe household4 of Stephanas were fthe first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves gto the service of the saints— 16 hbe subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for iyour absence, 18 for they jrefreshed my spirit as well as yours. kGive recognition to such people.
Greetings
19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. lAquila and Prisca, together with mthe church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send you greetings. nGreet one another with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, write othis greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be paccursed. Our Lord, come!5 23 qThe grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
He Heals the Brokenhearted
1 iPraise the Lord!
For jit is good to sing praises to our God;
for kit is pleasant,1 and la song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord mbuilds up Jerusalem;
he ngathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals othe brokenhearted
and pbinds up their wounds.
4 He qdetermines the number of the stars;
he rgives to all of them their names.
5 sGreat is our Lord, and tabundant in power;
uhis understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord vlifts up the humble;2
he casts the wicked to the ground.
7 wSing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on xthe lyre!
8 He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares yrain for the earth;
he makes zgrass grow on the hills.
9 He agives to the beasts their food,
and to bthe young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in cthe strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord dtakes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who ehope in his steadfast love.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens fthe bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
14 He gmakes peace in your borders;
he hfills you with the ifinest of the wheat.
15 He jsends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives ksnow like wool;
he scatters lfrost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of mice like crumbs;
who can stand before his ncold?
18 He osends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his pstatutes and rules3 to Israel.
20 He qhas not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.4
rPraise the Lord!
