Psalms 120

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
 ¹  I took my troubles to the LORD;
  I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
 ²  Rescue me, O LORD, from liars
  and from all deceitful people.
 ³  O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
  How will he increase your punishment?
 ⁴  You will be pierced with sharp arrows
  and burned with glowing coals.

 ⁵  How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
  It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
 ⁶  I am tired of living
  among people who hate peace.
 ⁷  I search for peace;
  but when I speak of peace, they want war!

Psalms 121

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
 ¹  I look up to the mountains—
  does my help come from there?
 ²  My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!  ³  He will not let you stumble;
  the one who watches over you will not slumber.
 ⁴  Indeed, he who watches over Israel
  never slumbers or sleeps.

 ⁵  The LORD himself watches over you!
  The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.
 ⁶  The sun will not harm you by day,
  nor the moon at night.

 ⁷  The LORD keeps you from all harm
  and watches over your life.
 ⁸  The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Psalms 122

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.
 ¹  I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."  ²  And now here we are,
  standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
 ³  Jerusalem is a well-built city;
  its seamless walls cannot be breached.
 ⁴  All the tribes of Israel—the LORD's people—
  make their pilgrimage here.
They come to give thanks to the name of the LORD,
  as the law requires of Israel.
 ⁵  Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,
  the thrones of the dynasty of David.

 ⁶  Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
  May all who love this city prosper.
 ⁷  O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
  and prosperity in your palaces.
 ⁸  For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
  "May you have peace."
 ⁹  For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
  I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.

1 Corinthians 9

Paul Gives Up His Rights
 ¹  Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn't it because of my work that you belong to the Lord?  ²  Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord's apostle.
   ³  This is my answer to those who question my authority. [3]   ⁴  Don't we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals?  ⁵  Don't we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers do, and as Peter [5]  does?  ⁶  Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?
   ⁷  What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn't have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn't allowed to drink some of the milk?  ⁸  Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing?  ⁹  For the law of Moses says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." [9]  Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this?  ¹⁰  Wasn't he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.
   ¹¹  Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren't we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?  ¹²  If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.
   ¹³  Don't you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.  ¹⁴  In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.  ¹⁵  Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.  ¹⁶  Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!
   ¹⁷  If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.  ¹⁸  What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That's why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.
   ¹⁹  Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.  ²⁰  When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.  ²¹  When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, [21]  I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
   ²²  When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.  ²³  I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
   ²⁴  Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!  ²⁵  All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.  ²⁶  So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.  ²⁷  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

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