David said, “I will express my loyalty ¹  to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal ²  to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death. ³  When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy, ⁴ 

All this ¹  monotony ²  is tiresome; no one can bear ³  to describe it: ⁴  The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content ⁵  with hearing.

Therefore I say, ‘Listen ¹  to me. I, even I, will explain what I know.’

My words come from the uprightness of my heart, ¹  and my lips will utter knowledge sincerely. ² 

But because it is heavier ¹  than the sand ²  of the sea, that is why my words have been wild. ³ 

I will learn a song that imparts wisdom; I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp. ¹ 

But reject those myths ¹  fit only for the godless and gullible, ²  and train yourself for godliness.

David said, “I will express my loyalty ¹  to Hanun son of Nahash just as his father was loyal ²  to me.” So David sent his servants with a message expressing sympathy over his father’s death. ³  When David’s servants entered the land of the Ammonites,

“For Aaron’s sons you are to make tunics, sashes, and headbands ¹  for glory and for beauty.

From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.

Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct. ¹ 

“Therefore, ¹  I will not refrain my mouth; ²  I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain ³  in the bitterness of my soul.

He established a rule ¹  in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants, ² 

I said, “Indeed, ¹  let them come quickly and sing a song of mourning for us. Let them wail loudly until tears stream from our own eyes and our eyelids overflow with water.

For all of them will shave their heads in mourning. They will all cut off their beards to show their sorrow. They will all make gashes in their hands. They will all put on sackcloth. ¹ 

As you can verify ¹  for yourself, not more than twelve days ago ²  I went up to Jerusalem ³  to worship.

But sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires. ¹  For apart from the law, sin is dead.

For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

because the service of this ministry is not only providing for ¹  the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.

But practicing the truth in love, ¹  we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.