Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God

A Psalm of David ^(A)when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

Hushai Warns David to Escape

^15 (A)Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. ¹⁶ Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night ^(B)in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ” ^17 (C)Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz ^(D)stayed at ^(E)En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. ¹⁸ Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house ^(F)in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it. ^19 (G)Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known. ²⁰ And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

So ^(H)the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.”

And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. ²¹ Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, ^(I)“Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.” ²² So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

²³ Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to ^(J)his house, to his city. Then he ^[a]put his ^(K)household in order, and ^(L)hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.

²⁴ Then David went to ^(M)Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. ²⁵ And Absalom made ^(N)Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was ^[b]Jithra, an ^[c]Israelite, who had gone in to ^(O)Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. ²⁶ So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that ^(P)Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, ^(Q)Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and ^(R)Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, ²⁸ brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, ²⁹ honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty ^(S)in the wilderness.”

Bear and Share Burdens

6 Brethren, if a man is ^[a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of ^(A)gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ^2 (B)Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill ^(C)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(D)if anyone thinks himself to be something, when ^(E)he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But ^(F)let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and ^(G)not in another. ⁵ For ^(H)each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

^6 (I)Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for ^(J)whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap ^(K)everlasting life. ⁹ And ^(L)let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap ^(M)if we do not lose heart. ^10 (N)Therefore, as we have opportunity, ^(O)let us do good to all, ^(P)especially to those who are of the household of faith.