Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
16 But God says to the wicked people,
“Why do you talk about my laws?
Why do you mention my agreement?
17 You hate my teachings.
You turn your back on what I say.
18 When you see a thief, you join him.
You take part in adultery.
19 You don’t stop your mouth from speaking evil.
Your tongue makes up lies.
20 You speak against your brother.
You lie about your mother’s son.
21 I have kept quiet while you did these things.
So you thought I was just like you.
But I will scold you.
I will accuse you to your face.
22 “Think about this, you people who forget God.
Otherwise, I will tear you apart,
and no one will save you.
23 Those people honor me
who give me offerings to show thanks.
And I, God, will save those who do that.”
Amnon and Tamar
13 Now David had a son named Absalom and a son named Amnon. Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon loved her. 2 Tamar was a virgin. Amnon did not think he should do anything bad to her. But he wanted her very much. He made himself sick just thinking about her.
3 Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah. (Shimeah was David’s brother.) Jonadab was a very clever man. 4 He asked Amnon, “Why do you look so sad day after day? You are the king’s son! Tell me what’s wrong!”
Amnon told him, “I love Tamar. But she is the sister of my half-brother Absalom.”
5 Jonadab said to Amnon, “Go to bed. Act as if you are sick. Then your father will come to see you. Tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come in and give me food to eat. Let her make the food in front of me. Then I will see it and eat it from her hand.’”
6 So Amnon lay down in bed and acted as if he were sick. King David came in to see him. Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come in. Let her make two of her special cakes for me while I watch. Then I will eat them from her hands.”
7 David sent messengers to Tamar in the palace. They told her, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and make some food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house. He was in bed. Tamar took some dough and pressed it together with her hands. She made some special cakes while Amnon watched. Then she baked them. 9 Next she took the pan and took out the cakes for Amnon. But he refused to eat.
He said to his servants, “All of you, leave me alone!” So all his servants left the room. 10 Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the inner room. Then I’ll eat from your hand.”
Tamar took the cakes she had made. And she brought them to her brother Amnon in the inner room. 11 She went to him so he could eat from her hands. But Amnon grabbed her. He said, “Sister, come and have physical relations with me.”
12 Tamar said to him, “No, brother! Don’t force me! This should never be done in Israel! Don’t do this shameful thing! 13 I could never get rid of my shame! And you will become like the shameful fools in Israel! Please talk with the king. He will let you marry me.”
14 But Amnon refused to listen to her. He was stronger than she was. So he raped her. 15 After that, Amnon hated Tamar. He hated her much more than he had loved her before. Amnon said to her, “Get up and leave!”
16 Tamar said to him, “No! Sending me away would be an even greater evil. That would be worse than what you’ve already done!”
But he refused to listen to her. 17 He called his young servant back in. Amnon said, “Get this girl out of here right now! Lock the door after her.” 18 So his servant led her out of the room. And he bolted the door after her.
Now Tamar was wearing a special robe with long sleeves. The king’s virgin daughters wore this kind of robe. 19 To show how upset she was Tamar took ashes and put them on her head. She tore her special robe. And she put her hand on her head. Then she went away, crying loudly.
27 All of you together are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of that body. 28 And in the church God has given a place first to apostles, second to prophets, and third to teachers. Then God has given a place to those who do miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who can help others, those who are able to lead, and those who can speak in different languages. 29 Not all are apostles. Not all are prophets. Not all are teachers. Not all do miracles. 30 Not all have gifts of healing. Not all speak in different languages. Not all interpret those languages. 31 But you should truly want to have the greater gifts.
Love
And now I will show you the best way of all.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.