Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 34

The Lord Delivers the Righteous

Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech,^(A) who drove him out, and he departed.

David Informed of Absalom’s Plans

¹⁵ Hushai then told the priests Zadok and Abiathar, “This is what^[a] Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what^[b] I advised. ¹⁶ Now send someone quickly and tell David, ‘Don’t spend the night at the wilderness ford,^[c] but be sure to cross over the Jordan,^[d](A) or the king and all the people with him will be devoured.’”

¹⁷ Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, because they dared not be seen entering the city. ¹⁸ However, a young man did see them and informed Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. ¹⁹ Then his wife took the cover, placed it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain on it so nobody would know anything.

²⁰ Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

“They passed by toward the water,”^[e] the woman replied to them. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ After they had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well and went and informed King David. They told him, “Get up and immediately ford the river, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.” ²² So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one who had not crossed the Jordan.

²³ When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He set his house in order and hanged himself.^(B) So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

²⁴ David had arrived at Mahanaim by the time Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. ²⁵ Now Absalom had appointed Amasa^(C) over the army in Joab’s place. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra^[f] the Israelite;^[g](D) Ithra had married Abigail daughter of Nahash.^[h] Abigail was a sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. ²⁶ And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. ²⁷ When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash^(E) from Rabbah^(F) of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar,^(G) and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim^{(H) 28} brought beds, basins,^[i] and pottery items. They also brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,^{[j] 29} honey, curds, sheep, goats, and cheese^[k] from the herd for David and the people with him to eat. They had reasoned, “The people must be hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Carry One Another’s Burdens

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle^(A) spirit,^[a](B) watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.^{(C) 2} Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.^{(D) 3} For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing,^(E) he deceives himself. ⁴ Let each person examine his own work,^(F) and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. ⁵ For each person will have to carry his own load.

⁶ Let the one who is taught the word share^(G) all his good things with the teacher. ⁷ Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, ⁸ because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit^(H) will reap eternal life^(I) from the Spirit. ⁹ Let us not get tired^(J) of doing good,^(K) for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work^(L) for the good^(M) of all, especially for those who belong to the household^(N) of faith.^(O)