Old/New Testament
Troubles in Mishandling the Ark(A)
6 After this, David gathered together again 30,000 men from all of the choicest men of Israel. 2 Then David and all the people with him set out from Baal-judah to bring up from there the Ark of God, who is called the Name, the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, and who is enthroned on the cherubim. 3 They mounted the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s home in Gibeah,[a] with Abinadab’s sons Uzzah and Ahio[b] driving the new cart. 4 As they left Abinadab’s house in Gibeah accompanied by the Ark of God, Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 5 David and the entire assembly[c] of Israel were dancing in the presence of the Lord with all of their strength, accompanied by all sorts of wood instruments,[d] harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6 When they arrived at Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out and grabbed the Ark of God because the oxen had stumbled. 7 Just then, the anger of the Lord blazed against Uzzah, and God struck him down right there because of his failure, and he died there beside the Ark of God.
8 David flew into a rage because the Lord had killed[e] Uzzah. That’s why that place is called Perez-uzzah[f] to this day. 9 But David feared the Lord that day, and asked, “How can the Ark of God come to me?” 10 As a result, David was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care in the City of David. Instead, David left it at the home of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 So the ark of the Lord remained for three months in the household of Obed-edom the Gittite while the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.
12 Later on, David was informed, “The Lord has blessed the home of Obed-edom and everything he has since he’s in possession[g] of the Ark of God.” So David went out joyfully and brought up the Ark of God to the City of David from Obed-edom’s home. 13 After those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed oxen and fattened animals, 14 dancing in front of the Lord with all of his strength and wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and the entire assembly[h] of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and trumpet blasts.
David’s Wife Michal Disrespects David’s Worship
16 As the ark of the Lord was coming into the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal was peering out a window, watching King David jumping and dancing in the Lord’s presence, and she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought in the ark of the Lord, set it in place inside the tent that David had erected for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings in the presence of the Lord.
18 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies 19 and distributed to all the people—the entire multitude of Israel, including both men and women—a cake made of bread, one made of dates, and one made of raisins to each one. Then all the people left, each headed for home.
20 When David returned to bless his household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him and called out, “How the king of Israel honored himself today by undressing himself right in front of his women staff members, just like any pervert[i] would dare to expose himself!”
21 But David replied to Michal, “It was in front of the Lord, who appointed me to replace your father and his entire household by selecting me as Commander-in-Chief[j] over Israel, the people of the Lord, that I danced in front of the Lord. 22 I’m going to act more shamelessly than this, even to humbling myself in my own eyes. Now as to the women staff members about whom you have spoken, they are to hold me in honor!” 23 And Saul’s daughter Michal bore no children from that day on until the day she died.
David Plans to Build the Temple(B)
7 After the king had settled down in his palace and the Lord had given him respite from all of his surrounding enemies, 2 he[k] told the prophet Nathan, “Look now, I’m living in a cedar palace, but the Ark of God resides behind[l] a tent[m] curtain.”
3 Nathan replied to the king, “Go do everything you have in mind,[n] because the Lord is with you.”
4 But later that same night, this message came to Nathan from the Lord:
5 “Go tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says:
“‘“Are you going to build a house[o] for me to inhabit? 6 After all, I haven’t lived in a house since the day I brought up the Israelis from Egypt until now. Instead, I’ve moved around in a tent that served as my[p] dwelling place. 7 Wherever I moved among the Israelis, did I ever ask even one tribal leader[q] of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built me a cedar house?’
8 “‘“Now therefore this is what you are to tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: “I took you from the pasture myself—from tending sheep—to become Commander-in-Chief[r] over my people, that is, over Israel.
9 “‘“Furthermore, I have remained with you everywhere you have gone, annihilating all your enemies right in front of you. I will make a great reputation[s] for you, like the reputation[t] of great ones who have lived on[u] earth. 10 I will establish a homeland[v] for my people—for Israel—planting them so they may live in a secure location where they will never be disturbed anymore. Wicked people[w] will no longer afflict them, as happened in the past 11 when I had commanded judges to administer[x] my people Israel. I’ll also grant you relief from all your enemies.”’
“‘The Lord also announces to you: “The Lord will himself build a house[y] for you. 12 When your life[z] is complete and you go to join[aa] your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring[ab] after you, who will come forth from your body,[ac] and I will fortify his kingdom. 13 He will build a Temple dedicated to my Name, and I will make the throne of his kingdom last forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he will be to me a son who, when he commits iniquity, I will discipline with the rod wielded by armies[ad] and with wounds inflicted by human beings.[ae] 15 But I’ll never remove my gracious love from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed from your presence. 16 Your dynasty and your kingdom will remain forever in my presence—your throne will be secure forever.”’”
17 Nathan communicated this complete oracle to David with precisely these words.
David’s Prayer(C)
18 Then King David went in to the presence of the Lord, sat down, and said:
“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family,[af] that you have brought me to this? 19 And this is still a small thing to you, Lord God—you also have spoken about the future of your servant’s house, and this is the charter[ag] for mankind, O Lord God!
20 “What more can David say to you, and you surely know your servant, Lord God. 21 For the sake of your word and consistent with your desire,[ah] you have done all of these great things, informing your servant. 22 And therefore you are great, Lord God, there is no one like you, there is no God except for you, just as we’ve heard with our own ears.
23 “And who is like your people, like Israel, the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to carry out for them great and awe-inspiring accomplishments, driving out nations and their gods in front of your people, whom you redeemed to yourself from Egypt? 24 You have prepared your people Israel to be your very own people for ever, and you, Lord, have become their God!
25 “And now, Lord God, let what you have spoken concerning your servant and his household be done—and let it be done just as you’ve promised. 26 May your name be made great forever with the result that it is said that the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is God over Israel, and that the household of your servant David may be established before you. 27 For you, Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant, telling him, ‘I will build a dynasty for you,’ so that your servant has found fortitude[ai] to pray this prayer to you.
28 “Now therefore, Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have spoken to your servant these good things. 29 So may it please you to bless the household of your servant, so that it might remain forever in your presence, because you, Lord God, have spoken, and from your blessing may the household of your servant be blessed forever.”
David’s Military Victories(D)
8 Sometime later, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, taking Metheg-ammah away from the Philistines. 2 David also conquered Moab, then measured them with a cord, making them lie down on the ground. He executed everyone measured out in each two lengths’ measurement of the cord, but spared the ones measured out by every third length. Then the Moabites were placed under servitude to David, and made to pay tribute.
3 David also attacked King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah, when he was attempting to restore his hegemony[aj] over the Euphrates[ak] River. 4 David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 1,700[al] horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses except for enough to supply[am] 100 chariots. 5 When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 David erected garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, placing the Arameans under servitude to him,[an] and they paid tribute to him. 7 David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s officers and took them to Jerusalem. 8 He[ao] also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, cities under Hadadezer’s control.
9 When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 10 Tou sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer, because he had been at war with Tou. Joram brought articles of silver, gold, and bronze with him, 11 and King David dedicated them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that had been dedicated from all the nations that he had conquered, 12 including from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and spoil from King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah.
13 David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. 14 He erected garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
David’s Leaders(E)
15 David reigned over all of Israel, administering[ap] justice and equity to every one of his people. 16 Zeruiah’s son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist,[aq] 17 Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were priests, Seraiah[ar] was his personal secretary,[as] 18 Jehoida’s son Benaiah supervised the special forces[at] and mercenaries,[au] and David’s sons were priests.[av]
The Parable about the Faithful Shepherd(A)
15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners kept coming to listen to Jesus.[a] 2 But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable:
4 “Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. He leaves the 99 in the wilderness and looks for the one that is lost until he finds it, doesn’t he? 5 When he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 Then he goes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I’ve found my lost sheep!’ 7 In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need to repent.”
The Story of the Diligent Housewife
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one of them.[b] She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it, doesn’t she? 9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I lost!’ 10 In the same way, I tell you that there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
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