Amos 1:13–2:5

1:13 This is what the Lord says:

“Because the Ammonites have committed three crimes—

make that four—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

They ripped open Gilead’s pregnant women

so they could expand their territory.

14So I will set fire to Rabbah’s city wall;

fire will consume her fortresses.

War cries will be heard on the day of battle;

a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm.

15Ammon’s king will be deported;

he and his officials will be carried off together.”

The Lord has spoken!

2:1 This is what the Lord says:

“Because Moab has committed three crimes—

make that four—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

They burned the bones of Edom’s king into lime.

2So I will set Moab on fire,

and it will consume Kerioth’s fortresses.

Moab will perish in the heat of battle

amid war cries and the blaring of the ram’s horn.

3I will remove Moab’s leader;

I will kill all Moab’s officials with him.”

The Lord has spoken!

4This is what the Lord says:

“Because Judah has committed three covenant transgressions—

make that four—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.

They rejected the Lord’s law;

they did not obey his commands.

Their false gods,

to which their fathers were loyal,

led them astray.

5So I will set Judah on fire,

and it will consume Jerusalem’s fortresses.”

Ps. 88

88:1 A song, a psalm written by the Korahites, for the music director, according to the machalath-leannoth style; a well-written song by Heman the Ezrahite.

O Lord God who delivers me,

by day I cry out

and at night I pray before you.

2Listen to my prayer.

Pay attention to my cry for help.

3For my life is filled with troubles,

and I am ready to enter Sheol.

4They treat me like those who descend into the grave.

I am like a helpless man,

5adrift among the dead,

like corpses lying in the grave

whom you remember no more

and who are cut off from your power.

6You place me in the lowest regions of the Pit,

in the dark places, in the watery depths.

7Your anger bears down on me,

and you overwhelm me with all your waves. (Selah)

8You cause those who know me to keep their distance;

you make me an appalling sight to them.

I am trapped and cannot get free.

9My eyes grow weak because of oppression.

I call out to you, O Lord, all day long;

I spread out my hands in prayer to you.

10Do you accomplish amazing things for the dead?

Do the departed spirits rise up and give you thanks? (Selah)

11Is your loyal love proclaimed in the grave,

or your faithfulness in the place of the dead?

12Are your amazing deeds experienced in the dark region,

or your deliverance in the land of oblivion?

13As for me, I cry out to you, O Lord;

in the morning my prayer confronts you.

14O Lord, why do you reject me,

and pay no attention to me?

15I am oppressed and have been on the verge of death since my youth.

I have been subjected to your horrors and am numb with pain.

16Your anger overwhelms me;

your terrors destroy me.

17They surround me like water all day long;

they join forces and encircle me.

18You cause my friends and neighbors to keep their distance;

those who know me leave me alone in the darkness.

Rom. 16:1–16

16:1 Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2so that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many, including me.

3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4who risked their own necks for my life. Not only I, but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5Also greet the church in their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. 7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my compatriots and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my good friend Stachys. 10Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 11Greet Herodion, my compatriot. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, laborers in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother who was also a mother to me. 14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them. 15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the believers who are with them. 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.