Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Psalm of David.

¹ ¶ Plead my cause, O LORD, with those that strive with me; fight against those that fight against me.

² Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up in my help.

³ Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against those that persecute me; say unto my soul; I am thy saving health.

⁴ Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul; let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

⁵ Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

⁷ For without cause they have hid their net for me in a pit, which without cause they have dug for my soul.

⁸ Let destruction come upon him at unawares, and let his net that he has hid catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall.

⁹ And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in his saving health.

¹⁰ All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, who delivers the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoils him?

²² ¶ And God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

²³ And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way and went into the field. Then Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way.

²⁴ But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side and a wall on that side.

²⁵ And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; and he smote her again.

²⁶ And the angel of the LORD went further and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

²⁷ And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

²⁸ Then the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?

³² But I would have you without worry. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

³³ but he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

³⁴ There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

³⁵ And this I speak for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is honourable and that ye may attend upon the Lord without impediment.

³⁶ ¶ But if anyone thinks it uncomely regarding his daughter, if she passes the bloom of life, and need so requires, let him do what he will, he does not sin: let them marry.

³⁷ Nevertheless, he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has liberty regarding his own, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his daughter, does well.

³⁸ So then he that gives her in marriage does well, but he that does not give her in marriage does better.

³⁹ ¶ The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is free and may be married to whom she will, if it is in the Lord.

⁴⁰ But she shall be more blessed if she so abides, after my counsel, and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.