Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 53[a]
Foolishness of the Wicked
1 For the director.[b] According to Mahalath. A maskil of David.
2 [c]The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.”
Such are depraved and their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does what is right.
3 God looks down from heaven
upon the entire human race,
to see if there are any who act with wisdom,
if even a single one seeks God.
4 But they have all turned aside;
all alike are corrupt.
There is no one who does what is right,
not even one.
5 Have all these evildoers no understanding?
They devour my people as they eat bread,
and they never call out to God.
6 Later, they will be filled with terror,
and with good reason,[d]
although now they do not fear.
For God will scatter the bones
of those who attack you;
they will be put to shame,
for God has rejected them.
7 Who will bring about the salvation of Israel
that is to come out of Zion?[e]
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice and Israel will exult.
23 Now a force of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.
Chapter 14
Jonathan Defeats the Philistines.[a] 1 One day Jonathan, Saul’s son, said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let us cross over to the other side to that outpost of Philistines,” but he did not tell his father.
2 Saul had remained in the upper part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree that is in Migron. There were around six hundred men with him. 3 Abijah, the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, was the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, and he wore an ephod. Now, the people did not know that Jonathan had left.
4 Along the passes through which Jonathan was traveling to go over to the Philistine outpost, there was a rocky cliff on one side and there was a rocky cliff on the other side. They were called Bozez and Seneh. 5 One of them faced the north toward Michmash, and the other faced the south toward Gibeah. 6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come on, let us cross over to that outpost of uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will be with us, for nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether it be by many or by few.” 7 His armor-bearer said to him, “Do what you have in mind, my heart is with you.”
8 Jonathan said, “Let us cross over to those men and show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait where you are until we come over to you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go over to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come here to us,’ then we will go, because the Lord has delivered them into our hands, and this is a sign to us.”[b]
11 So the two of them showed themselves to the Philistine force, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming up out of the holes in which they have hidden themselves.” 12 Then the men of that force said to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come over to us and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come, follow me, for the Lord has delivered them into Israel’s hands.”
13 Jonathan climbed up using his hands and his feet, and his armor-bearer followed him. They fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer also put them to death after him. 14 That first time Jonathan and his armor-bearer slaughtered about twenty of them, all within half the area an ox could plow.
15 The army in the fields and all the people in the outposts and the raiding parties were seized with panic, and they were shaking so much that even the ground quaked, for it was a tremendous panic.
16 Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. 17 Saul said to the people who were with him, “Take stock and see who has left us.” They took stock, and Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 Saul said to Abijah, “Bring the Ark of God here” (for the Ark of God was then with the Israelites). 19 While Saul was talking with the priest, the noise that was rising up from the Philistine army kept getting louder. Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled and went into battle. There was great confusion, each man attacking his neighbor with his sword. 21 Furthermore, those Hebrews who had previously sided with the Philistines and who had gone up into their camp changed sides to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 When all of the Israelites who had hid themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they joined them in battle, chasing closely after them. 23 Thus the Lord saved Israel on that day, and the fighting continued on through Beth-haven.
Conclusion[a]
11 The Cross of Christ, Our True Boast. Observe what large letters I make when I am writing to you in my own handwriting. 12 It is those who want to gain human approval who are trying to compel you to be circumcised, their sole purpose being to escape persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the Law. They want you to be circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
14 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world is crucified to me and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is important, but only a new creation.
16 Blessing and a Plea. May peace and mercy be given to all who follow this rule, and to the Israel of God.[b]
17 In the future, let no one make trouble for me, for I bear the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
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