Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
There Is None Who Does Good
To the choirmaster: according to (A)Mahalath. A Maskil[a] of David.
53 (B)The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
there is none who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven
on the children of man
to see if there are any who understand,[b]
who seek after God.
3 They have all fallen away;
together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.
4 Have those who work evil no knowledge,
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon God?
5 There they are, in great terror,
(C)where there is no terror!
For God (D)scatters the bones of him who encamps against you;
you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
23 And (A)the garrison of the Philistines went out to the (B)pass of (C)Michmash.
Jonathan Defeats the Philistines
14 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave[a] at (D)Migron. The people who were with him were about (E)six hundred men, 3 including (F)Ahijah the son of Ahitub, (G)Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord (H)in Shiloh, (I)wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 Within (J)the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of (K)Geba.
6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these (L)uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, (M)for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” 7 And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish.[b] Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.” 11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming (N)out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12 And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. 14 And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre[c] of land. 15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even (O)the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.[d]
16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude (P)was dispersing here and there.[e] 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people[f] of Israel. 19 Now (Q)while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, (R)every Philistine's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, (S)even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel (T)who had hidden themselves (U)in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. 23 (V)So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond (W)Beth-aven.
Final Warning and Benediction
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you (A)with my own hand. 12 (B)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh (C)who would force you to be circumcised, and only (D)in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast (E)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[a] the world (F)has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For (G)neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but (H)a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, (I)peace and mercy be upon them, and upon (J)the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 (K)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be (L)with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.