Sirach 47:2-11
Common English Bible
David
2 Just as the fat is separated
from the offering of well-being,
so David was set apart
from the Israelites.
3 He played with lions
as if they were young goats,
and with bears
as if they were lambs from the flock.
4 Didn’t he kill a giant in his youth
and take away disgrace from the people,
when he raised his hand with a stone shot from a sling
and struck down
the arrogant Goliath?
5 David called upon the Lord Most High,
and the Lord gave strength
to his strong arm
to do away with a mighty warrior,
to assert the power[a] of his people.
6 For this, they glorified him
in throngs of thousands.
They praised him,
calling down the Lord’s blessings,
when they brought him
a glorious crown.
7 David destroyed his enemies
on every side,
and he despised the Philistines,
his adversaries;
he shattered their power,
which has never recovered.[b]
8 In everything he did, he gave thanks
to the holy one, the Most High,
with glorious words.
He sang hymns with all his heart,
and he loved his maker.
9 He appointed singers with harps
before the altar
to make sweet melody with their sounds.[c]
10 He brought dignity to the festivals,
and he adorned the whole cycle
of sacred seasons,[d]
as they were praising God’s holy name,
and from early morning
the sanctuary resounded.
11 The Lord took away David’s sins,
and he exalted his power[e] forever.
He established his kingdom by agreement;
and a glorious throne in Israel.
Footnotes
- Sirach 47:5 LXX horn
- Sirach 47:7 LXX shattered their horn to this very day
- Sirach 47:9 LXXb adds and every day they offer praise with their songs.
- Sirach 47:10 Gk he adorned the times until their completion
- Sirach 47:11 LXX horn
Psalm 18:31-33
Common English Bible
31 Now really, who is divine except the Lord?
And who is a rock but our God?
32 Only God! The God who equips me with strength
and makes my way perfect,
33 who makes my step as sure as the deer’s,
who lets me stand securely on the heights,
Psalm 18:46-50
Common English Bible
46 The Lord lives! Bless God, my rock!
Let the God of my salvation be lifted high!
47 This is the God who avenges on my behalf,
who subdues people before me,
48 who delivers me from my enemies.
Yes, you lifted me high above my adversaries;
you delivered me from violent people.
49 That’s why I thank you, Lord,
in the presence of the nations.
That’s why I sing praises to your name.
50 You are the one who gives great victories to your king,
who shows faithful love to your anointed one—
to David and to his descendants forever.
Mark 6:14-29
Common English Bible
Death of John the Baptist
14 Herod the king heard about these things, because the name of Jesus had become well-known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and this is why miraculous powers are at work through him.” 15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah.” Still others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the ancient prophets.” 16 But when Herod heard these rumors, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised to life.”
17 He said this because Herod himself had arranged to have John arrested and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. Herod had married her, 18 but John told Herod, “It’s against the law for you to marry your brother’s wife!” 19 So Herodias had it in for John. She wanted to kill him, but she couldn’t. 20 This was because Herod respected John. He regarded him as a righteous and holy person, so he protected him. John’s words greatly confused Herod, yet he enjoyed listening to him.
21 Finally, the time was right. It was on one of Herod’s birthdays, when he had prepared a feast for his high-ranking officials and military officers and Galilee’s leading residents. 22 Herod’s daughter Herodias[a] came in and danced, thrilling Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the young woman, “Ask me whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 Then he swore to her, “Whatever you ask I will give to you, even as much as half of my kingdom.”
24 She left the banquet hall and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”
“John the Baptist’s head,” Herodias replied.
25 Hurrying back to the ruler, she made her request: “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a plate, right this minute.” 26 Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. 27 So he ordered a guard to bring John’s head. The guard went to the prison, cut off John’s head, 28 brought his head on a plate, and gave it to the young woman, and she gave it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came and took his dead body and laid it in a tomb.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Mark 6:22 Or the daughter of Herodias herself; Gk uncertain
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