Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Sing to Yahweh a New Song

A Psalm.

³ Now ^(A)Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him ^(B)in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed from the land those who ^(C)were mediums and spiritists. ⁴ So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped ^(D)in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped in ^(E)Gilboa. ⁵ Saul saw the camp of the Philistines and was afraid and his heart trembled greatly. ^6 (F)So Saul asked of Yahweh, but ^(G)Yahweh did not answer him, either by ^(H)dreams or by ^(I)Urim or by prophets. ⁷ So Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, ^(J)there is a woman who is a medium at ^(K)En-dor.”

⁸ Then Saul ^(L)disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, “^(M)Divine for me, please, and ^(N)bring up for me whom I shall say to you.” ⁹ But the woman said to him, “Behold, you know ^(O)what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you then laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?” ¹⁰ Then Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, “As Yahweh lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” ¹¹ Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” ¹² And the woman saw Samuel and cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.” ¹³ And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a ^[a]divine being coming up out of the earth.” ¹⁴ And he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and ^(P)he is wrapped with a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and ^(Q)he bowed with his ^[b]face to the ground and prostrated himself.

¹⁵ Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul answered, “I am greatly distressed, for the Philistines are waging war against me, and ^(R)God has turned away from me and ^(S)no longer answers me, either by the hand of the prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I should do.” ¹⁶ And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since Yahweh has turned away from you and has become your adversary? ¹⁷ So Yahweh has done ^[c]accordingly ^(T)as He spoke by my hand, for Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David. ¹⁸ As ^(U)you did not listen to the voice of Yahweh and did not execute His burning anger on Amalek, so Yahweh has done this thing to you this day. ¹⁹ Moreover Yahweh will also give over Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, therefore tomorrow ^(V)you and your sons will be with me. Indeed Yahweh will give over the camp of Israel into the hands of the Philistines!”

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

¹⁸ For ^(A)the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who ^(B)suppress the truth ^[a]in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because ^(C)that which is known about God is evident ^[b]within them; for God made it evident to them. ²⁰ For ^(D)since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, ^(E)being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. ²¹ For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became ^(F)futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. ^22 (G)Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and ^(H)exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the likeness of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

²⁴ Therefore ^(I)God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be ^(J)dishonored among them. ²⁵ For they exchanged the truth of God for ^[c]a ^(K)lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, ^(L)who is blessed ^[d]forever. Amen.