Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.

Praise for the Lord’s Deliverance

David Becomes King over Israel^(A)

5 After this, all of the tribes of Israel assembled with David at Hebron and declared, “Look, we’re your own flesh and blood!^{[a] 2} Even back when Saul was our king, it was you who kept on leading Israel out to battle^[b] and bringing them back again.^[c] The Lord told you, ‘You yourself will shepherd my people Israel and serve as Commander-in-Chief^[d] over Israel.’” ³ So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where King David entered into a covenant with them in the presence of the Lord. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel.

David Establishes Jerusalem as His Capital^(B)

⁴ David began to reign when he was 30 years old, and he reigned 40 years. ⁵ He reigned over Judah for seven years and six months in Hebron, and he reigned over all of Israel including Judah for 33 years in Jerusalem. ⁶ Later, the king and his army marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who were inhabiting the territory at that time^[e] and who had told David, “You’re not coming in here! Even the blind and the lame could turn you away!” because they were thinking^[f] “David can’t come here.” ⁷ Even so, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is now known as^[g] the City of David.

⁸ At that time,^[h] David had said, “Whoever intends to attack the Jebusites will have to climb up the water shaft to attack the lame and blind, who hate David.”^[i]

Therefore they say, “The blind and lame are never to come into the house.” ⁹ David occupied^[j] the fortress, naming it the City of David. He^[k] built up the surroundings from the terrace ramparts^[l] inward. ¹⁰ David became more and more esteemed because the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies was with him.

Paul’s Sufferings as an Apostle

¹⁶ I will say it again: No one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, then treat me like a fool so that I can also boast a little. ¹⁷ When I talk as a confident boaster, I am not talking with the Lord’s authority but like a fool. ¹⁸ Since many people boast in a fleshly way, I will do it, too. ¹⁹ You are wise, so you will gladly be tolerant of fools. ²⁰ You tolerate anyone who makes you his slaves, devours what you have, takes what is yours, orders you around, or slaps your face!

²¹ I am ashamed to admit it, but we have been too weak for that. Whatever anyone else dares to claim—I am talking like a fool—I can claim it, too. ²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelis? So am I. Are they among Abraham’s descendants? So am I. ²³ Are they the Messiah’s^[a] servants? I am insane to talk like this, but I am a far better one! I have been involved in far greater efforts, far more imprisonments, countless beatings, and have faced death more than once. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with a stick, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a day and a night. ²⁶ I have traveled extensively and have been endangered from rivers, robbers, my own people, and gentiles. I’ve also been in danger in the city, in the open country, at sea, from false brothers, ²⁷ in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, through hunger, thirst, many periods of fasting, coldness, and nakedness. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I have a daily burden because of my anxiety about all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak without me being weak, too? Who is caused to stumble without me becoming indignant?

³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show how weak I am. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas put guards around the city of Damascus to catch me, ³³ but I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.