Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Confidence in God’s protection.
For the Chief Musician; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.
61 Hear my cry, O God;
Attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart [a]is overwhelmed:
Lead me to [b]the rock that is higher than I.
3 For thou hast been a refuge for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will dwell in thy [c]tabernacle for ever:
I will take refuge in the covert of thy wings. Selah
5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows:
Thou hast [d]given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6 Thou wilt prolong the king’s life;
His years shall be as many generations.
7 He shall abide before God for ever:
Oh prepare lovingkindness and truth, that they may preserve him.
8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever,
That I may daily perform my vows.
18 Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? 19 And this was yet a small thing in thine eyes, O Lord Jehovah; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come; [a]and this too after the manner of men, O Lord Jehovah! 20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord Jehovah. 21 For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make thy servant know it. 22 Wherefore thou art great, O Jehovah God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 [b]And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and terrible things for thy land, before thy people, whom thou redeemedst to thee out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24 And thou didst establish to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God. 25 And now, O Jehovah God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, confirm thou it for ever, and do as thou hast spoken. 26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of thy servant David shall be established before thee. 27 For thou, O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant [c]found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. 28 And now, O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth, and thou hast promised this good thing unto thy servant: 29 now therefore [d]let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with [a]grief: for this were unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. 19 And I exhort you the more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep [b]with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus, 21 make you perfect in every good [c]thing to do his will, working in [d]us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory [e]for ever and ever. Amen.
22 But I exhort you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation: for I have written unto you in few words. 23 Know ye that our brother Timothy hath been set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. [f]They of Italy salute you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
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