Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
32 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silent, my bones waxed old through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; the sap of my soul was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, “I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,” and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; surely the floods of great waters shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with Mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they not come near unto thee.”
10 Many shall be the sorrows of the wicked; but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous; and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart!
15 And it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared himself chariots and horses and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early and stood beside the way of the gate; and it was so that, when any man who had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him and said, “Of what city art thou?” And he said, “Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”
3 And Absalom said unto him, “See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed by the king to hear thee.”
4 Absalom said moreover, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!”
5 And it was so that, when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand and took him and kissed him.
6 And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, “I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’”
9 And the king said unto him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, ‘Absalom reigneth in Hebron.’”
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem who were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.
11 I ask 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 whom He foreknew. Know ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3 “Lord, they have killed Thy prophets and torn down Thine altars, and I am left alone and they seek my life”?
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? “I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.”
5 Even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it be by works, then it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded,
8 according as it is written: “God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day.”
9 And David saith, “Let their table be made a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense unto them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their backs alway.”
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