Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 23
The Good Shepherd
A Davidic psalm.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;(A)
there is nothing I lack.(B)
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;(C)
He leads me beside quiet waters.(D)
3 He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths[a]
for His name’s sake.(E)
4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,[b]
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;(F)
Your rod and Your staff[c]—they comfort me.(G)
22 Then Samuel said:
Does the Lord(A) take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
Look: to obey is better than sacrifice,
to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.(B)
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,(C)
and defiance is like wickedness(D) and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He has rejected you as king.(E)
24 Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned.(F) I have transgressed the Lord’s command(G) and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them. 25 Now therefore, please forgive my sin(H) and return with me so I can worship the Lord.”
26 Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord,(I) the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today(J) and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.(K) 29 Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel(L) does not lie or change His mind, for He is not man who changes his mind.”(M)
30 Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me(N) now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the Lord your God.”(O) 31 Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the Lord.
5 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. 2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,(A) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3 But sexual immorality(B) and any impurity(C) or greed(D) should not even be heard of[a] among you, as is proper for saints. 4 Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. 5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral(E) or impure(F) or greedy(G) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom(H) of the Messiah and of God.
Light versus Darkness
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath(I) is coming on the disobedient because of these things.[b] 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light(J) in the Lord. Walk as children of light(K)— 9 for the fruit of the light[c] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth(L)—
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