David Established at Jerusalem^(A)

14 Now ^(B)Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house. ² So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was ^(C)highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.

³ Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters. ⁴ And ^(D)these are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: ^[a]Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ⁵ Ibhar, ^[b]Elishua, ^[c]Elpelet, ⁶ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁷ Elishama, ^[d]Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

The Philistines Defeated^(E)

⁸ Now when the Philistines heard that ^(F)David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them. ⁹ Then the Philistines went and made a raid ^(G)on the Valley of ^[e]Rephaim. ¹⁰ And David ^(H)inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

The Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.”

¹¹ So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore they called the name of that place ^[f]Baal Perazim. ¹² And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

^13 (I)Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. ¹⁴ Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, ^(J)and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. ¹⁵ And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” ¹⁶ So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from ^[g]Gibeon as far as Gezer. ¹⁷ Then ^(K)the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord ^(L)brought the fear of him upon all nations.

Light Bearers

¹² Therefore, my beloved, ^(A)as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, ^(B)work out your own salvation with ^(C)fear and trembling; ¹³ for ^(D)it is God who works in you both to will and to do ^(E)for His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things ^(F)without ^[a]complaining and ^(G)disputing,^{[b] 15} that you may become blameless and ^[c]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as ^(H)lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that ^(I)I may rejoice in the day of Christ that ^(J)I have not run in vain or labored in ^(K)vain.

¹⁷ Yes, and if ^(L)I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice ^(M)and service of your faith, ^(N)I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy Commended

¹⁹ But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send ^(O)Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your ^[d]state. ²⁰ For I have no one ^(P)like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. ²¹ For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know his proven character, ^(Q)that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. ²³ Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. ²⁴ But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

Epaphroditus Praised

²⁵ Yet I considered it necessary to send to you ^(R)Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and ^(S)fellow soldier, ^(T)but your messenger and ^(U)the one who ministered to my need; ^26 (V)since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. ²⁹ Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; ³⁰ because for the work of Christ he came close to death, ^[e]not regarding his life, ^(W)to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.