Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
53 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They have corrupted and done abominable wickedness. There is no one that does good.
2 God looked down from Heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who would understand and seek God.
3 Everyone has gone back. They are altogether corrupt. There is no one who does good; no, not one.
4 Do not the workers of iniquity know that they eat up my people as they eat bread? They do not call upon God.
5 There they were in fear where no fear was. For God has scattered the bones of him who besieged you. You have put them to confusion because God has cast them off.
6 Oh, give salvation to Israel out of Zion! When God turns the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice; and Israel shall be glad. To him who excels on Neginoth: A Psalm of David, to give instruction, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, “Is not David hidden among us?”
23 And the garrison of the Philistines came out to the passage of Michmash.
14 Then, on a day when Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come and let us go over toward the Philistines’ garrison that is yonder, on the other side,” he did not tell his father.
2 And Saul waited on the border of Gibeah, under a pomegranate tree, which was in Migron. And the people who were with him were about six hundred men.
3 And Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, was the LORD’s Priest in Shiloh and wore an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan was gone.
4 Now, on the road whereby Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. The name of one was called “Bozez” and the name of the other “Seneh”.
5 The one rock stretched from the North toward Michmash, and the other from the South toward Gibeah.
6 And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work with us. For it is not hard for the LORD to save with many or with few.”
7 And he who bore his armor said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go where it pleases you. Behold, I am with you as your heart desires.”
8 Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we go over to those men and will show ourselves to them.
9 “If they say this to us: ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them.
10 “But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the LORD has delivered them into our hand. And this shall be a sign to us.”
11 So they both showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “See, the Hebrews come out of the holes in which they had hidden themselves.”
12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, “Come up to us. For we will teach you something.” Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me. For the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
13 So Jonathan went up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armor bearer after him. And some fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed them from behind.
14 So the first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men, within half an acre of land which two oxen plow.
15 And there was a fear in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Also, the garrison and those who went out to plunder were afraid. And the earth trembled, for it was stricken with fear by God.
16 Then, the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin saw. And behold, the multitude melted away as they went, being struck down.
17 Therefore, Saul said to the people who were with him, “Search, now, and see who is gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
18 And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the Ark of God here.” (for the Ark of God was, at that time, with the children of Israel)
19 And while Saul talked to the Priest, the noise that was in the camp of the Philistines spread further away and increased. Therefore, Saul said to the Priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
20 And Saul was assembled with all the people who were with him. And they came to the battle. And behold, every man’s sword was against his neighbor. There was very great confusion.
21 Moreover, the Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had come with them into all parts of the camp, they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Also, all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves on Mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines had fled, they followed after them in the battle.
23 And so, the LORD saved Israel that day. And the battle continued to Beth Aven.
11 You see how large the letters are which I have written to you with my own hand.
12 As many as desire to have a fair appearance in the flesh, they urge you to be circumcised, only because they would not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
13 For they themselves who are circumcised do not keep the Law, but desire to have you circumcised, so that they might boast in your flesh.
14 But may it never be that I should boast in anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; whereby the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!
15 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creature.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace shall be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From henceforth let no one give me trouble. For I bear on my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18 Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
(to the Galatians; written from Rome.)
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