Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 57
Praise for God’s Protection
For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.”[a] A Davidic Miktam. When he fled before Saul into the cave.(A)
1 Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
for I take refuge in You.
I will seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until danger passes.(B)
2 I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.[b](C)
3 He reaches down from heaven and saves me,
challenging the one who tramples me.(D)
God sends His faithful love and truth.(E)
4 I am surrounded by lions;
I lie down with those who devour men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows;
their tongues are sharp swords.(F)
5 God, be exalted above the heavens;
let Your glory be over the whole earth.(G)
6 They prepared a net for my steps;
I was despondent.
They dug a pit ahead of me,
but they fell into it!(H)
7 My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.
I will sing; I will sing praises.(I)
8 Wake up, my soul![c]
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.(J)
9 I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.(K)
10 For Your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.(L)
11 God, be exalted above the heavens;(M)
let Your glory be over the whole earth.(N)
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey and fell with her face to the ground in front of David.(A) 24 She fell at his feet and said, “The guilt is mine, my lord, but please let your servant speak to you directly. Listen to the words of your servant. 25 My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he lives up to his name:[a] His name is Nabal,[b] and stupidity is all he knows.[c] I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent. 26 Now my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, it is the Lord who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself(B) by your own hand. May your enemies and those who want trouble for my lord be like Nabal.(C) 27 Accept this gift(D) your servant has brought to my lord, and let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive your servant’s offense,(E) for the Lord is certain to make a lasting dynasty for my lord(F) because he fights the Lord’s battles.(G) Throughout your life, may evil[d] not be found in you.(H)
29 “When someone pursues you and attempts to take your life, my lord’s life will be tucked safely in the place[e] where the Lord your God protects the living. However, He will fling away your enemies’ lives like stones from a sling.(I) 30 When the Lord does for my lord all the good He promised and appoints you ruler over Israel,(J) 31 there will not be remorse or a troubled conscience for my lord because of needless bloodshed or my lord’s revenge. And when the Lord does good things for my lord, may you remember me your servant.”(K)
32 Then David said to Abigail, “Praise to the Lord God of Israel,(L) who sent you to meet me today! 33 Your discernment is blessed, and you are blessed. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.(M) 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any men[f] left by morning light.” 35 Then David accepted what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace.(N) See, I have heard what you said and have granted your request.”(O)
Waiting for the Lord
7 Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.(A) 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.(B)
9 Brothers, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!(C)
10 Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience. 11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured.[a] You have heard of Job’s endurance(D) and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.(E)
Truthful Speech
12 Now above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath.(F) Your “yes” must be “yes,” and your “no” must be “no,” so that you won’t fall under judgment.[b]
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