Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Lead Me to the Rock

To the choirmaster: with ^(A)stringed instruments. Of David.

David's Prayer of Gratitude

¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, ^(A)“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? ¹⁹ And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. ^(B)You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! ²⁰ And what more can David say to you? ^(C)For you know your servant, O Lord God! ²¹ Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. ^22 (D)Therefore you are great, O Lord God. ^(E)For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. ^23 (F)And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name ^(G)and doing for them^[a] great and awesome things by driving out before your people,^[b] whom ^(H)you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? ^24 (I)And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. ²⁵ And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. ²⁶ And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. ²⁷ For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. ²⁸ And now, O Lord God, you are God, and ^(J)your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. ²⁹ Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, ^(K)and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

¹⁷ Obey ^(A)your leaders and submit to them, ^(B)for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to ^(C)give an account. ^(D)Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

^18 (E)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. ¹⁹ I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order ^(F)that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

²⁰ Now ^(G)may the God of peace ^(H)who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, ^(I)the great shepherd of the sheep, by ^(J)the blood of the eternal covenant, ^21 (K)equip you with everything good that you may do his will, ^(L)working in us^[a] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, ^(M)to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

²² I appeal to you, brothers,^[b] bear with my word of exhortation, for ^(N)I have written to you briefly. ²³ You should know that ^(O)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. ²⁴ Greet all ^(P)your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. ^25 (Q)Grace be with all of you.