defiantly charging against him ¹  with a thick, strong shield! ² 

Will he find delight ¹  in the Almighty? Will he call out to God at all times?

For I am aware of ¹  my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin. ² 

O Israel, hope in the Lord now and forevermore!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!

There will never cease to be some poor people in the land; therefore, I am commanding you to make sure you open ¹  your hand to your fellow Israelites ²  who are needy and poor in your land.

I will give them a single-minded purpose to live in a way that always shows respect for me. They will want to do that for ¹  their own good and the good of the children who descend from them.

So the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘Jonadab son of Rechab will never lack a male descendant to serve me.’” ¹ 

For God, whom I serve in my spirit by preaching the gospel ¹  of his Son, is my witness that ²  I continually remember you

With every prayer and petition, pray ¹  at all times in the Spirit, and to this end ²  be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will. ¹  But I despise ²  him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but always ³  disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. ⁴  Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things!”

But now Timothy has come ¹  to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection ²  and long to see us just as we also long to see you! ³ 

You will cultivate ¹  the land for him – you and your sons and your servants. You will bring its produce ²  and it will be ³  food for your master’s grandson to eat. ⁴  But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will be a regular guest at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

And in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of his calling ¹  and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith,

Remember ¹  continually his covenantal decree, the promise he made ²  to a thousand generations –

but from my youth I raised the orphan ¹  like a father, and from my mother’s womb ²  I guided the widow! ³ 

But ¹  no stranger had to spend the night outside, for I opened my doors to the traveler ²  –

All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, ¹  and his children ²  are blessed.

All day long they cause me trouble; ¹  they make a habit of plotting my demise. ² 

Then I will sing praises to your name continually, ¹  as I fulfill ²  my vows day after day.