Psalm 23

New International Version

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹The Lord is my shepherd,^(A) I lack nothing.^(B)
²    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,^(C)
³    he refreshes my soul.^(D)
He guides me^(E) along the right paths^(F)
    for his name’s sake.^(G)
⁴Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]^(H)
I will fear no evil,^(I)
    for you are with me;^(J)
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵You prepare a table^(K) before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;^(L)
    my cup^(M) overflows.
⁶Surely your goodness and love^(N) will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Footnotes

Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death

1 Samuel 15:22-31

New International Version

²²But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,^(A)
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
²³For rebellion is like the sin of divination,^(B)
    and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected^(C) the word of the Lord,
    he has rejected you as king.”

²⁴Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned.^(D) I violated^(E) the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid^(F) of the men and so I gave in to them. ²⁵Now I beg you, forgive^(G) my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”

²⁶But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected^(H) the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”

²⁷As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe,^(I) and it tore.^(J) ²⁸Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn^(K) the kingdom^(L) of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you.^(M) ²⁹He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie^(N) or change^(O) his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

³⁰Saul replied, “I have sinned.^(P) But please honor^(Q) me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.” ³¹So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

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Ephesians 5:1-9

New International Version

5 ¹Follow God’s example,^(A) therefore, as dearly loved children^(B) ²and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^(C) and gave himself up for us^(D) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(E)

³But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,^(F) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,^(G) because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk^(H) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.^(I) ⁵For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater^(J)—has any inheritance^(K) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^[a]^(L) ⁶Let no one deceive you^(M) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath^(N) comes on those who are disobedient.^(O) ⁷Therefore do not be partners with them.

⁸For you were once^(P) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light^(Q) ⁹(for the fruit^(R) of the light consists in all goodness,^(S) righteousness and truth)