Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
18 1 This Psalm is the first beginning of his gratulation, and thanksgiving in the entering into his kingdom, wherein he extolleth and praiseth most highly the marvelous mercies and grace of God, who hath thus preserved and defended him. 32 Also he setteth forth the image of Christ’s kingdom, that the faithful may be assured that Christ shall always conquer and overcome by the unspeakable power of his Father, though all the whole world should strive there against.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, which spake unto the Lord the words of this song (in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul) and said,
1 I will love thee dearly, O Lord my strength.
2 (A)[a]The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and he that delivereth me, my God and my strength: in him will I trust, my shield, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.
3 I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be [b]praised: so shall I be safe from mine enemies.
4 [c]The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of wickedness made me afraid.
5 The [d]sorrows of the grave have compassed me about: the snares of death overtook me.
6 But in my trouble did I call upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his Temple, and my cry did come before him, even into his ears.
43 Thou hast delivered me from the contentions of the people: thou hast made me the head of the [a]heathen, a people, whom I have not [b]known, shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear they shall obey me: the strangers shall [c]be in subjection to me.
45 Strangers shall [d]shrink away, and fear in their pure chambers.
46 Let the Lord live, and blessed be my strength, and the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God that giveth me power to avenge me, and subdued the people under me.
48 O my deliverer from mine enemies, even thou hast set me up from those that rose against me; thou hast delivered me from the [e]cruel man.
49 Therefore [f]I will praise thee, O Lord, among the nations, and will sing unto thy Name.
50 Great deliverances giveth he unto his king, and showeth mercy to his anointed, even to David, and to his [g]seed forever.
31 4 Saul killeth himself. 6 His children are slain in the battle. 12 The men of Jabesh took down his body, which was hanged on the wall.
1 Now (A)the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled away from the Philistines, and they fell down [a]wounded in mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines pressed sore upon Saul and his sons, and slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua Saul’s sons.
3 And when the battle went sore against Saul, the archers and bowmen [b]hit him, and he was sore [c]wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul unto his armor bearer, [d]Draw out thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest the uncircumcised come and thrust me through and mock me: but his armor bearer would not, for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell upon it.
5 And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men that same day together.
7 ¶ And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the [e]valley, and they of the other side [f]Jordan saw that the men of Israel were put to flight, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they left the cities, and ran away: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8 ¶ And on the morrow when the Philistines were come to spoil them that were slain, they found Saul and his three sons lying in mount Gilboa,
9 And they cut off his head, and stripped him out of his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines on every side, that they should [g]publish it in the temple of their idols, and among the people.
10 And they laid up his armor in the house of Ashtoreth, but they hanged up his body on the wall of Beth Shan.
11 ¶ When the inhabitants of [h]Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 Then they arose (as many as were strong men) and went all night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, from the wall of Beth Shan, and came to Jabesh, and (B)burnt them there,
13 And took their bones and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, (C)and [i]fasted seven days.
9 1 Why, albeit he think well of their ready wills, 3 yet earnestly exhorteth them, 4 he yieldeth a reason: 6 He compareth alms to seed sowing, 10 which God doth repay with great gain.
1 For [a]as touching the ministering to the Saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you.
2 For I know your readiness of mind, whereof I boast myself of you unto them of Macedonia, and say, that Achaia was prepared a year ago, and your zeal hath provoked many.
3 Now have I sent the brethren, lest our rejoicing over you should be in vain in this behalf, that ye (as I have said) be ready.
4 Lest if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we may not say, you) should be ashamed in this my [b]constant boasting.
5 Wherefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to come before unto you, and to finish your benevolence appointed afore, that it might be ready, and come as of benevolence, and not as of [c]niggardliness.
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