Cast Your Burden on the Lord
To the choirmaster: with fstringed instruments. A Maskil1 of David.
1 gGive ear to my prayer, O God,
and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
2 Attend to me, and answer me;
I am restless hin my complaint and I imoan,
3 because of the noise of the enemy,
because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they jdrop trouble upon me,
and in anger they bear a grudge against me.
4 My heart is in anguish within me;
kthe terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me,
6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
7 nyes, I would wander far away;
I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
8 I would hurry to find a shelter
from othe raging wind and tempest.”
9 Destroy, O Lord, pdivide their tongues;
for I see qviolence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around it
on its walls,
and riniquity and trouble are within it;
11 ruin is in its midst;
soppression and fraud
do not depart from its marketplace.
12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me—
then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary who tdeals insolently with me—
then I could hide from him.
13 uBut it is you, a man, my equal,
my companion, my familiar friend.
14 We used to take sweet counsel together;
within God’s house we walked in vthe throng.
15 Let death steal over them;
let them go down to Sheol walive;
for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
16 But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.
17 xEvening and ymorning and at znoon
I autter my complaint and moan,
and he hears my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in safety
from the battle that I wage,
for bmany are arrayed against me.
19 God will give ear and humble them,
he who is centhroned from of old, Selah
because they do not dchange
and do not fear God.
20 My companion2 estretched out his hand against his friends;
he violated his covenant.
21 His fspeech was gsmooth as butter,
yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
yet they were hdrawn swords.
22 iCast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
jhe will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, O God, kwill cast them down
into lthe pit of destruction;
men of mblood and treachery
shall not nlive out half their days.
But I will otrust in you.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.1
26 A worker’s appetite works for him;
his xmouth urges him on.
27 yA worthless man plots evil,
and his speech2 is like za scorching fire.
28 aA dishonest man spreads strife,
and ba whisperer cseparates close friends.
29 A man of violence dentices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plans3 edishonest things;
he who fpurses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 gGray hair is ha crown of glory;
it iis gained in a righteous life.
32 jWhoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 kThe lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is lfrom the Lord.
4 pRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness1 be known to everyone. qThe Lord is at hand; 6 rdo not be anxious about anything, sbut in everything by prayer and supplication twith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And uthe peace of God, vwhich surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned2 and wreceived and heard and seen xin me—practice these things, and ythe God of peace will be with you.
God’s Provision
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length zyou have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be acontent. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and bhunger, abundance and cneed. 13 I can do all things dthrough him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you eto share3 my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that fin the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, gno church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 hNot that I seek the gift, but I seek ithe fruit that increases to your credit.4 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, jhaving received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, ka fragrant offering, la sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God mwill supply every need of yours naccording to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To oour God and Father be pglory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. qThe brothers who are with me greet you. 22 rAll the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
23 sThe grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
