Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

53 Unto the end, In verses, understanding for David.

² When the men of Ziph had come and said to Saul: Is not David hidden with us?

³ Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength.

⁴ O God, hear my prayer: give ear to the words of my mouth.

⁵ For strangers have risen up against me; and the mighty have sought after my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes.

⁶ For behold God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my soul.

⁷ Turn back the evils upon my enemies; and cut them off in thy truth.

⁸ I will freely sacrifice to thee, and will give praise, O God, to thy name: because it is good:

⁹ For thou hast delivered me out of all trouble: and my eye hath looked down upon my enemies.

²⁴ And Saul said to Samuel: I have sinned because I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words, fearing the people, and obeying their voice.

²⁵ But now bear, I beseech thee, my sin, and return with me, that I may adore the Lord.

²⁶ And Samuel said to Saul: I will not return with thee, because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

²⁷ And Samuel turned about to go away: but he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

²⁸ And Samuel said to him: The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to thy neighbour who is better than thee.

²⁹ But the triumpher in Israel will riot spare, and will not be moved to repentance: for he is not a mail that he should repent.

³⁰ Then he said: I have sinned: yet honour me now before the ancients of my people, and before Israel, and return with me, that I may adore the Lord thy God.

³¹ So Samuel turned again after Saul: and Saul adored the Lord.

⁴³ For there is no good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit; nor an evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit.

⁴⁴ For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape.

⁴⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.