Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

32 A psalm for David. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright.

² Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.

³ Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise.

⁴ For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done with faithfulness.

⁵ He loveth mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.

⁶ By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the power of them by the spirit of his mouth:

⁷ Gathering together the waters of the sea, as in a vessel; laying up the depths in storehouses.

⁸ Let all the earth fear the Lord, and let all the inhabitants of the world be in awe of him.

⁹ For he spoke and they were made: he commanded and they were created.

¹⁰ The Lord bringeth to naught the counsels of nations; and he rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes.

¹¹ But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.

¹³ The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.

¹⁴ From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth.

¹⁵ He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who understandeth all their works.

¹⁶ The king is not saved by a great army: nor shall the giant be saved by his own great strength.

¹⁷ Vain is the horse for safety: neither shall he be saved by the abundance of his strength.

¹⁸ Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him: and on them that hope in his mercy.

¹⁹ To deliver their souls from death; and feed them in famine.

²⁰ Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.

²¹ For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.

²² Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in thee.

15 Now after these things Absalom made himself chariots, and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

² And Absalom rising up early stood by the entrance of the gate, and when any man had business to come to the king's judgment, Absalom called him to him, and said: Of what city art thou? He answered, and said: Thy servant is of such a tribe of Israel.

³ And Absalom answered him: Thy words seem to me good and just. But there is no man appointed by the king to hear thee. And Absalom said:

⁴ O that they would make me judge over the land, that all that have business might come to me, that I might do them justice.

⁵ Moreover when any man came to him to salute him, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

⁶ And this he did to all Israel that came for judgment, to be heard by the king, and he enticed the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷ And after forty years, Absalom said to king David: Let me go, and pay my vows which I have vowed to the Lord in Hebron.

⁸ For thy servant made avow, when he was in Gessur of Syria, saying: If the Lord shall bring me again into Jerusalem I will offer sacrifice to the Lord.

⁹ And king David said to him: Go in peace. And he arose, and went to Hebron.

¹⁰ And Absalom sent spies into all the tribes of Israel, saying: As soon as you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, say ye: Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

¹¹ Now there went with Absalom two hundred men out of Jerusalem that were called, going with simplicity of heart, and knowing nothing of the design.

¹² Absalom also sent for Achitophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city Gilo. And while he was offering sacrifices, there was a strong conspiracy, and the people running together increased with Absalom.

11 I say then: Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

² God hath not cast away his people, which he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture saith of Elias; how he calleth on God against Israel?

³ Lord, they have slain thy prophets, they have dug down thy altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

⁴ But what saith the divine answer to him? I have left me seven thousand men, that have not bowed their knees to Baal.

⁵ Even so then at this present time also, there is a remnant saved according to the election of grace.

⁶ And if by grace, it is not now by works: otherwise grace is no more grace.

⁷ What then? That which Israel sought, he hath not obtained: but the election hath obtained it; and the rest have been blinded.

⁸ As it is written: God hath given them the spirit of insensibility; eyes that they should not see; and ears that they should not hear, until this present day.

⁹ And David saith: Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them.

¹⁰ Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see: and bow down their back always.