2 Samuel 20, 2 Corinthians 13, Ezekiel 27, Psalm 75, 76

2 Samuel 20,

1 Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, "We have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!"
 
2 So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
 
3 When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but did not lie with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.
 
4 Then the king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself."
 
5 But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.
 
6 David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bicri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us."
 
7 So Joab's men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.
 
8 While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.
 
9 Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
 
10 Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri.
 
11 One of Joab's men stood beside Amasa and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!"
 
12 Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him.
 
13 After Amasa had been removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.
 
14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him.
 
15 All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down,
 
16 a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him."
 
17 He went toward her, and she asked, "Are you Joab?" "I am," he answered. She said, "Listen to what your servant has to say." "I'm listening," he said.
 
18 She continued, "Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it.
 
19 We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD's inheritance?"
 
20 "Far be it from me!" Joab replied, "Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!
 
21 That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bicri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I'll withdraw from the city." The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you from the wall."
 
22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
 
23 Joab was over Israel's entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;
 
24 Adoniram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;
 
25 Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
 
26 and Ira the Jairite was David's priest.
 

2 Corinthians 13,

1 This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."
 
2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others,
 
3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
 
4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.
 
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless, of course, you fail the test?
 
6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
 
7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.
 
8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
 
9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.
 
10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority-the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
 
11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
 
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
 
13 All the saints send their greetings.
 
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
 

Ezekiel 27,

1 The word of the LORD came to me:
 
2 "Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre.
 
3 Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'You say, O Tyre, "I am perfect in beauty."
 
4 Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection.
 
5 They made all your timbers of pine trees from Senir ; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
 
6 Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.
 
7 Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail and served as your banner; your awnings were of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah.
 
8 Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen; your skilled men, O Tyre, were aboard as your seamen.
 
9 Veteran craftsmen of Gebal were on board as shipwrights to caulk your seams. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to trade for your wares.
 
10 " 'Men of Persia, Lydia and Put served as soldiers in your army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls, bringing you splendor.
 
11 Men of Arvad and Helech manned your walls on every side; men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they brought your beauty to perfection.
 
12 " 'Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.
 
13 " 'Greece, Tubal and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged slaves and articles of bronze for your wares.
 
14 " 'Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged work horses, war horses and mules for your merchandise.
 
15 " 'The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.
 
16 " 'Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.
 
17 " 'Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, oil and balm for your wares.
 
18 " 'Damascus, because of your many products and great wealth of goods, did business with you in wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar.
 
19 " 'Danites and Greeks from Uzal bought your merchandise; they exchanged wrought iron, cassia and calamus for your wares.
 
20 " 'Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.
 
21 " 'Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.
 
22 " 'The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.
 
23 " 'Haran, Canneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Asshur and Kilmad traded with you.
 
24 In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.
 
25 " 'The ships of Tarshish serve as carriers for your wares. You are filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea.
 
26 Your oarsmen take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you to pieces in the heart of the sea.
 
27 Your wealth, merchandise and wares, your mariners, seamen and shipwrights, your merchants and all your soldiers, and everyone else on board will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your shipwreck.
 
28 The shorelands will quake when your seamen cry out.
 
29 All who handle the oars will abandon their ships; the mariners and all the seamen will stand on the shore.
 
30 They will raise their voice and cry bitterly over you; they will sprinkle dust on their heads and roll in ashes.
 
31 They will shave their heads because of you and will put on sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and with bitter mourning.
 
32 As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament concerning you: "Who was ever silenced like Tyre, surrounded by the sea?"
 
33 When your merchandise went out on the seas, you satisfied many nations; with your great wealth and your wares you enriched the kings of the earth.
 
34 Now you are shattered by the sea in the depths of the waters; your wares and all your company have gone down with you.
 
35 All who live in the coastlands are appalled at you; their kings shudder with horror and their faces are distorted with fear.
 
36 The merchants among the nations hiss at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.' "
 

Psalm 75, 76

1 We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.
 
2 You say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly.
 
3 When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. Selah
 
4 To the arrogant I say, 'Boast no more,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horns.
 
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak with outstretched neck.' "
 
6 No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man.
 
7 But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.
 
8 In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.
 
9 As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
 
10 I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.
 

    
1 In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel.
 
2 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
 
3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war. Selah
 
4 You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.
 
5 Valiant men lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands.
 
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.
 
7 You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry?
 
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet-
 
9 when you, O God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Selah
 
10 Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.
 
11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.
 
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.