Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

Of David.

The Death of Samson

²³ Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to ^(A)Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” ²⁴ And when the people saw him, ^(B)they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.”^{[a] 25} And ^(C)when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. ²⁶ And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” ²⁷ Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and ^(D)on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

²⁸ Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, ^(E)please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” ²⁹ And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. ³⁰ And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. ³¹ Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him ^(F)between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel for twenty years.

^2 (A)And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus ^(B)saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ^(C)“Take heart, my son; ^(D)your sins are forgiven.” ³ And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, ^(E)“This man is blaspheming.” ⁴ But Jesus, ^(F)knowing^[a] their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? ⁵ For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? ⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” ⁷ And he rose and went home. ⁸ When the crowds saw it, ^(G)they were afraid, and ^(H)they glorified God, who had ^(I)given such authority to men.