Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 34^[a]

Presence of God, Protector of the Righteous

¹ Of David. When he pretended to be mad before Abimelech, who forced him to depart.^[b]

¹⁵ David Told of the Plan. Then Hushai said to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: “This is the counsel that Ahithophel gave to Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I advised. ¹⁶ Therefore, send a warning to David without delay and tell him: ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the desert, but cross over as quickly as you can. Otherwise the king and all the people with him may be annihilated.’ ”

¹⁷ Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En-rogel. A servant girl used to go there and report to them what was happening, and then they would go and inform King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. ¹⁸ However, a young lad saw them and informed Absalom. Therefore, the two of them ran off quickly and went to the house of a man in Horonaim. He had a cistern in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

¹⁹ The man’s wife then took a covering, stretched it out over the cistern, and strewed crushed grain on it so that nothing would be noticed. ²⁰ When the servants of Absalom came to the woman at the house, they asked: “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman replied: “They went by here a short while ago and went toward the water.” They continued their pursuit, but when they found no sight of them, they returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ After they had departed, the two men climbed out of the cistern and went to warn King David. “Leave immediately and cross the water quickly,” they said, as they related to him how Ahithophel had decided to proceed against him. ²² Therefore, David and all of the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By dawn there was not a single one left who had not crossed to the opposite bank of the Jordan.

²³ When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and departed straight home to his own town. Then, having left detailed instructions to ensure the well-being of his family, he hanged himself. He died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

²⁴ By the time that Absalom had crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel, David had already reached Mahanaim. ²⁵ Absalom had appointed Amasa to be commander of the army in Joab’s place. Amasa was the son of a man called Ithra the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and the sister of Joab’s mother Zeruiah. ²⁶ The Israelites and Absalom encamped in the territory of Gilead.

²⁷ When David came to Mahanaim, he was greeted by Shobi, the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir, the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. ²⁸ They brought bedding, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, ²⁹ honey and curds, and cheese from the flocks and herds for David and the people with him to eat, as they said: “Your troops must have been hungry and thirsty and exhausted in the desert.”

Chapter 6

The Law of Christ.^{[a] 1} Brethren, if anyone is detected committing a transgression, you who are spiritual must set him right in a spirit of gentleness. Meanwhile, you should take care so that you yourselves are not tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

³ If anyone thinks he is something when in fact he is nothing, he is only deceiving himself. ⁴ Each person must examine his own work. Then he will have reason to boast with regard to himself alone and not in comparison with someone else. ⁵ For everyone has his own burden to bear.

⁶ Anyone who is being taught should give his teacher a share in all his possessions. ⁷ Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A person will reap only what he sows. ⁸ The one who sows in his flesh will reap a harvest of corruption, but the one who sows in the Spirit will reap from the Spirit the reward of eternal life.

⁹ Let us never grow weary in doing what is right, for if we do not give up, we will reap our harvest in due time. ¹⁰ Therefore, while we have the opportunity, let us labor for the good of all, but especially for those members of the household of the faith.