Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, saying: Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh.2 Moreover yesterday also and the day before, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that did lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to thee: Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.3 The ancients also of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David to be king over Israel.
What more should I say? He did not open his mouth to those planning deceit, and, as though he did not hear, he thought no word should be returned, nor did he answer their reproaches. When he was spoken of evilly, he prayed. When he was cursed, he blessed. He walked in simplicity of heart and fled from the proud. He was a follower of those unspotted from the world, one who mixed ashes with his food when bewailing his sins, and mingled his drink with weeping. Worthily, then, was he called for by all the people. All the tribes of Israel came to him, saying, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. Also yesterday and the day before when Saul lived, and reigned, you were he that led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, you shall feed my people!" And why should I say more about him of whom the word of the Lord has gone forth to say: "I have found David according to my heart" Who else always walked in holiness of heart and in justice as he did, so as to fulfill the will of God; for whose sake pardon was granted to his children when they sinned, and their rights were preserved to his heirs?
I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord.2 Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem.3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together.4 For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.4 For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.5 Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David.
These are the feet that David washes in spirit when he teaches you how to keep them unsoiled, saying, "Our feet have been standing in your courts, O Jerusalem." Certainly, here "feet" is to be understood not as of the body but as of the soul. For how could a person on earth have his physical feet in heaven? Since Jerusalem, as Paul tells you, is in heaven, he also shows you how to stand in heaven when he says, "But our abode is in heaven": 2 the "abode" of your behavior, the "abode" of your deeds, the "abode" of your faith.
Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love,14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins;15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:16 For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and in him.17 And he is before all, and by him all things consist.18 And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he may hold the primacy:19 Because in him, it hath well pleased the Father, that all fullness should dwell;20 And through him to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in heaven.
Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection which is at all times taking place. Day and night declare to us a resurrection. The night sinks to sleep, and the day arises; the day [again] departs, and the night comes on. Let us behold the fruits [of the earth], how the sowing of grain takes place. The sower [Luke 8:5] goes forth, and casts it into the ground, and the seed being thus scattered, though dry and naked when it fell upon the earth, is gradually dissolved. Then out of its dissolution the mighty power of the providence of the Lord raises it up again, and from one seed many arise and bring forth fruit.
And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them derided him, saying: He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the elect of God.†36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,37 And saying: If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.38 And there was also a superscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.39 And one of those robbers who were hanged, blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.40 But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned under the same condemnation?41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil.42 And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom.†43 And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.
Here again, we must examine how the thief should be thought worthy of Paradise, seeing that a flaming sword prevents the entrance of the saints. But observe that the word of God describes it as turning about, so as it should obstruct the unworthy, but open a free entrance to life to the worthy.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)