Psalm 20^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

³⁴ Then Samuel left for Ramah,^(A) but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah^(B) of Saul. ³⁵ Until the day Samuel^(C) died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned^(D) for him. And the Lord regretted^(E) that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn^(F) for Saul, since I have rejected^(G) him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil^(H) and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse^(I) of Bethlehem. I have chosen^(J) one of his sons to be king.”

² But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show^(K) you what to do. You are to anoint^(L) for me the one I indicate.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem,^(M) the elders of the town trembled^(N) when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?^(O)”

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate^(P) yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab^(Q) and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,^(R) but the Lord looks at the heart.”^(S)

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab^(T) and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah^(U) pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all^(V) the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”^(W)

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he^(X) sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome^(Y) features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed^(Z) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord^(AA) came powerfully upon David.^(AB) Samuel then went to Ramah.

⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight.^{(A) 8} We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^{(B) 9} So we make it our goal to please him,^(C) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us^(D) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹ Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,^(A) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.^{(B) 12} We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,^(C) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,^(D) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. ¹³ If we are “out of our mind,”^(E) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.^{(A) 15} And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves^(B) but for him who died for them^(C) and was raised again.

¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly^(D) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,^(E) the new creation^(F) has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!^(G)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like.^(A) A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”^(B)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed^(C)

³⁰ Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,^(D) or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³² Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.^{(E) 34} He did not say anything to them without using a parable.^(F) But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.