Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
A Prayer in Troubled Times
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam of David when he escaped from Saul in a cave.
57 Be merciful to me, God. Be merciful to me
because I come to you for protection.
I will come to you as a bird comes for protection under its mother’s wings
until the trouble has passed.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to the God who does everything for me.
3 He sends help from heaven and saves me.
He punishes those who attack me. Selah
God sends me his love and truth.
4 Enemies are like lions all around me.
I must lie down among them.
Their teeth are like spears and arrows.
Their tongues are as sharp as swords.
5 God is supreme over the skies.
His greatness covers the earth.
6 They set a trap for me.
I am very worried.
They dug a pit in my path.
But they fell into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is right, God. My heart is right.
I will sing and praise you.
8 Wake up, my soul.
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.
9 Lord, I will praise you among the nations.
I will sing songs of praise about you to all the nations.
10 Your love is so great it reaches to the skies.
Your truth reaches to the clouds.
11 God, you are supreme over the skies.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
Nabal’s Death
36 When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was in the house. He was eating like a king. He was very drunk and in a good mood. So she told him nothing until the next morning. 37 In the morning he was not drunk. Then his wife told him everything. His heart failed him, and he became like a stone. 38 About ten days later the Lord struck Nabal and caused him to die.
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise the Lord! Nabal insulted me, but the Lord has supported me! He has kept me from doing wrong. And the Lord caused Nabal to die because he did wrong.”
Then David sent a message to Abigail. He asked her to become his wife. 40 His servants went to Carmel and spoke to Abigail. They said, “David sent us to take you so you can become his wife.”
41 Abigail bowed facedown on the ground. She said, “I am your servant. I’m ready to serve you. I’m ready to wash the feet of my master’s servants.” 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and went with David’s messengers. She had five maids following her. And she became David’s wife.
Jesus Prays Alone
39-40 Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives. His followers went with him. (Jesus went there often.) He said to his followers, “Pray for strength against temptation.”
41 Then Jesus went about a stone’s throw away from them. He kneeled down and prayed, 42 “Father, if it is what you want, then let me not have this cup[a] of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him to help him. 44 Jesus was full of pain; he prayed even more. Sweat dripped from his face as if he were bleeding. 45 When he finished praying, he went to his followers. They were asleep. (Their sadness had made them very tired.) 46 Jesus said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray for strength against temptation.”
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.