Psalm 53^[a](A)

For the director of music. According to mahalath.^[b] A maskil^[c] of David.

Jonathan Attacks the Philistines

²³ Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass^(A) at Mikmash.^(B) 14 ¹ One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.

² Saul was staying^(C) on the outskirts of Gibeah^(D) under a pomegranate tree^(E) in Migron.^(F) With him were about six hundred men, ³ among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s^(G) brother Ahitub^(H) son of Phinehas, the son of Eli,^(I) the Lord’s priest in Shiloh.^(J) No one was aware that Jonathan had left.

⁴ On each side of the pass^(K) that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. ⁵ One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.^(L)

⁶ Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised^(M) men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing^(N) can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many^(O) or by few.^(P)”

⁷ “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

⁸ Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. ⁹ If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. ¹⁰ But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign^(Q) that the Lord has given them into our hands.^(R)”

¹¹ So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews^(S) are crawling out of the holes they were hiding^(T) in.” ¹² The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.^(U)”

So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand^(V) of Israel.”

¹³ Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. ¹⁴ In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.

Israel Routs the Philistines

¹⁵ Then panic^(W) struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding^(X) parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.^[a]

¹⁶ Saul’s lookouts^(Y) at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. ¹⁷ Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.

¹⁸ Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring^(Z) the ark^(AA) of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)^{[b] 19} While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest,^(AB) “Withdraw your hand.”

²⁰ Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking^(AC) each other with their swords. ²¹ Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went^(AD) over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. ²² When all the Israelites who had hidden^(AE) in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. ²³ So on that day the Lord saved^(AF) Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.^(AG)

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

¹¹ See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!^(A)

¹² Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh^(B) are trying to compel you to be circumcised.^(C) The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted^(D) for the cross of Christ. ¹³ Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,^(E) yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.^{(F) 14} May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(G) through which^[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.^{(H) 15} Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;^(I) what counts is the new creation.^{(J) 16} Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to^[b] the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks^(K) of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ^(L) be with your spirit,^(M) brothers and sisters. Amen.