Saul and the Medium of En-dor

28 In those days (A)the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Now (B)Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him (C)in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put (D)the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. The Philistines assembled and came and encamped (E)at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped (F)at Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, (G)the Lord did not answer him, either (H)by dreams, or (I)by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, (J)“Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at (K)En-dor.”

So Saul (L)disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, (M)“Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, (N)how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, (O)“As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped (P)in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and (Q)God has turned away from me and (R)answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for (S)the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 (T)Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you (U)and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. (V)I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

The Philistines Reject David

29 (W)Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at (X)Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by (Y)the spring that is in (Z)Jezreel. As (AA)the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear (AB)with Achish, the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me (AC)now for days and years, and since he deserted to me (AD)I have found no fault in him to this day.” But (AE)the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return (AF)to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, (AG)lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,

(AH)‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands’?”

Then Achish called David and said to him, (AI)“As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that (AJ)you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight (AK)as an angel of God. Nevertheless, (AL)the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now then rise early in the morning (AM)with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” 11 So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to (AN)Jezreel.

28 In those days the Philistines gathered(A) their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”

David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard(B) for life.”

Saul and the Medium at Endor

Now Samuel was dead,(C) and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah.(D) Saul had expelled(E) the mediums and spiritists(F) from the land.

The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem,(G) while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.(H) When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror(I) filled his heart. He inquired(J) of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams(K) or Urim(L) or prophets.(M) Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium,(N) so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,(O)” they said.

So Saul disguised(P) himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult(Q) a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off(R) the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap(S) for my life to bring about my death?”

10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”

11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me?(T) You are Saul!”

13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure[a] coming up out of the earth.”(U)

14 “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe(V) is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed(W) from me. He no longer answers(X) me, either by prophets or by dreams.(Y) So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn(Z) the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey(AA) the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath(AB) against the Amalekites,(AC) the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons(AD) will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life(AE) in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

23 He refused(AF) and said, “I will not eat.”

But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

24 The woman had a fattened calf(AG) at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. 25 Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag

29 The Philistines gathered(AH) all their forces at Aphek,(AI) and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.(AJ) As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear(AK) with Achish. The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?”

Achish replied, “Is this not David,(AL) who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year,(AM) and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.”

But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send(AN) the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn(AO) against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances:

“‘Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens of thousands’?”(AP)

So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day(AQ) you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers(AR) don’t approve of you. Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.”

“But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel(AS) of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders(AT) have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 10 Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave(AU) in the morning as soon as it is light.”

11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 28:13 Or see spirits; or see gods

Help Me, O Lord My God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

109 (A)Be not silent, O (B)God of my praise!
For wicked and (C)deceitful mouths are opened against me,
    speaking against me with lying tongues.
They encircle me with words of hate,
    and attack me (D)without cause.
In return for my love they (E)accuse me,
    but I (F)give myself to prayer.[a]
So they (G)reward me evil for good,
    and hatred for my love.

(H)Appoint a wicked man (I)against him;
    let an accuser stand (J)at his right hand.
When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;
    let his (K)prayer be counted as sin!
May his (L)days be few;
    may (M)another take his (N)office!
May his (O)children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow!
10 May his children (P)wander about and beg,
    (Q)seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
11 May (R)the creditor seize all that he has;
    may (S)strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
12 Let there be none to (T)extend kindness to him,
    nor any to (U)pity his fatherless children!
13 May his (V)posterity be cut off;
    may his (W)name be blotted out in the second generation!
14 May (X)the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,
    and let not the sin of his mother be (Y)blotted out!
15 (Z)Let them be before the Lord continually,
    that he may (AA)cut off the memory of them from the earth!

16 For he did not remember to show kindness,
    but pursued (AB)the poor and needy
    and (AC)the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
17 (AD)He loved to curse; let curses come[b] upon him!
    He did not delight in blessing; may it be far[c] from him!
18 He (AE)clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
    may it (AF)soak[d] into his body like water,
    like oil into his bones!
19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him,
    like a belt that he puts on every day!
20 May this be the reward of my (AG)accusers from the Lord,
    of those who speak evil against my life!

21 But you, O God my Lord,
    deal on my behalf (AH)for your name's sake;
    because your (AI)steadfast love is good, deliver me!
22 For I am (AJ)poor and needy,
    and my heart is stricken within me.
23 I am gone like (AK)a shadow at evening;
    I am (AL)shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak (AM)through fasting;
    my (AN)body has become gaunt, with no fat.
25 I am (AO)an object of scorn to my accusers;
    when they see me, they (AP)wag their heads.

26 (AQ)Help me, O Lord my God!
    Save me according to your steadfast love!
27 Let them (AR)know that this is your hand;
    you, O Lord, have done it!
28 (AS)Let them curse, but you will bless!
    They arise and are put to shame, but (AT)your servant will be glad!
29 May my accusers be (AU)clothed with dishonor;
    may they (AV)be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
    I will (AW)praise him in the midst of the throng.
31 For he stands (AX)at the right hand of the needy one,
    to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 109:4 Hebrew but I am prayer
  2. Psalm 109:17 Revocalization; Masoretic Text curses have come
  3. Psalm 109:17 Revocalization; Masoretic Text it is far
  4. Psalm 109:18 Revocalization; Masoretic Text it has soaked

Psalm 109

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

My God, whom I praise,(A)
    do not remain silent,(B)
for people who are wicked and deceitful(C)
    have opened their mouths against me;
    they have spoken against me with lying tongues.(D)
With words of hatred(E) they surround me;
    they attack me without cause.(F)
In return for my friendship they accuse me,
    but I am a man of prayer.(G)
They repay me evil for good,(H)
    and hatred for my friendship.

Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy;
    let an accuser(I) stand at his right hand.
When he is tried, let him be found guilty,(J)
    and may his prayers condemn(K) him.
May his days be few;(L)
    may another take his place(M) of leadership.
May his children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow.(N)
10 May his children be wandering beggars;(O)
    may they be driven[a] from their ruined homes.
11 May a creditor(P) seize all he has;
    may strangers plunder(Q) the fruits of his labor.(R)
12 May no one extend kindness to him
    or take pity(S) on his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants be cut off,(T)
    their names blotted out(U) from the next generation.
14 May the iniquity of his fathers(V) be remembered before the Lord;
    may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
15 May their sins always remain before(W) the Lord,
    that he may blot out their name(X) from the earth.

16 For he never thought of doing a kindness,
    but hounded to death the poor
    and the needy(Y) and the brokenhearted.(Z)
17 He loved to pronounce a curse—
    may it come back on him.(AA)
He found no pleasure in blessing—
    may it be far from him.
18 He wore cursing(AB) as his garment;
    it entered into his body like water,(AC)
    into his bones like oil.
19 May it be like a cloak wrapped(AD) about him,
    like a belt tied forever around him.
20 May this be the Lord’s payment(AE) to my accusers,
    to those who speak evil(AF) of me.

21 But you, Sovereign Lord,
    help me for your name’s sake;(AG)
    out of the goodness of your love,(AH) deliver me.(AI)
22 For I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade away like an evening shadow;(AJ)
    I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees give(AK) way from fasting;(AL)
    my body is thin and gaunt.(AM)
25 I am an object of scorn(AN) to my accusers;
    when they see me, they shake their heads.(AO)

26 Help me,(AP) Lord my God;
    save me according to your unfailing love.
27 Let them know(AQ) that it is your hand,
    that you, Lord, have done it.
28 While they curse,(AR) may you bless;
    may those who attack me be put to shame,
    but may your servant rejoice.(AS)
29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace
    and wrapped in shame(AT) as in a cloak.

30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;
    in the great throng(AU) of worshipers I will praise him.
31 For he stands at the right hand(AV) of the needy,
    to save their lives from those who would condemn them.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 109:10 Septuagint; Hebrew sought

Messengers from John the Baptist

11 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

(A)Now when John heard (B)in prison about the deeds of (C)the Christ, he sent word by (D)his disciples and said to him, “Are you (E)the one who is to come, or shall we (F)look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: (G)the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and (H)the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who (I)is not offended by me.”

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out (J)into the wilderness to see? (K)A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man[b] dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see? (L)A prophet?[c] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

(M)“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 (N)From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,[d] and the violent take it by force. 13 (O)For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is (P)Elijah who is to come. 15 (Q)He who has ears to hear,[e] let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
    we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came (R)neither eating (S)nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came (T)eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, (U)a friend of (V)tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”[f]

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

20 (W)Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 (X)“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in (Y)Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 (Z)But I tell you, it will be more bearable on (AA)the day of judgment for (AB)Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, (AC)Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to (AD)Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 (AE)But I tell you that (AF)it will be more tolerable on (AG)the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

25 (AH)At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, (AI)Lord of heaven and earth, that (AJ)you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and (AK)revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your (AL)gracious will.[g] 27 (AM)All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son (AN)except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone (AO)to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 (AP)Come to (AQ)me, all who labor and are (AR)heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and (AS)learn from me, for I am (AT)gentle and lowly in heart, and (AU)you will find rest for your souls. 30 For (AV)my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:5 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
  2. Matthew 11:8 Or Why then did you go out? To see a man…
  3. Matthew 11:9 Some manuscripts Why then did you go out? To see a prophet?
  4. Matthew 11:12 Or has been coming violently
  5. Matthew 11:15 Some manuscripts omit to hear
  6. Matthew 11:19 Some manuscripts children (compare Luke 7:35)
  7. Matthew 11:26 Or for so it pleased you well

Jesus and John the Baptist(A)

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples,(B) he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

When John,(C) who was in prison,(D) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,(E) or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.(F) Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”(G)

As John’s(H) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness(I) to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?(J) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,(K)
    who will prepare your way before you.’[c](L)

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.(M) 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.(N) 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.(O)

16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
    and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
    and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating(P) nor drinking,(Q) and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’(R) But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Woe on Unrepentant Towns(S)

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!(T) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon,(U) they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.(V) 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.(W) 23 And you, Capernaum,(X) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e](Y) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”(Z)

The Father Revealed in the Son(AA)

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father,(AB) Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.(AC) 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me(AD) by my Father.(AE) No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.(AF)

28 “Come to me,(AG) all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.(AH) 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,(AI) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.(AJ) 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:1 Greek in their towns
  2. Matthew 11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  3. Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
  4. Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing
  5. Matthew 11:23 That is, the realm of the dead