Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
For the director of music. A miktam of David when he had run away from Saul into the cave. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.”
57 Have mercy on me, God. Have mercy on me.
I go to you for safety.
I will find safety in the shadow of your wings.
There I will stay until the danger is gone.
2 I cry out to God Most High.
I cry out to God, and he shows that I am right.
3 He answers from heaven and saves me.
He puts to shame those who chase me.
He shows his love and that he is faithful.
4 Men who are like lions are all around me.
I am forced to lie down among people who are like hungry animals.
Their teeth are like spears and arrows.
Their tongues are like sharp swords.
5 God, may you be honored above the heavens.
Let your glory be over the whole earth.
6 My enemies spread a net to catch me by the feet.
I felt helpless.
They dug a pit in my path.
But they fell into it themselves.
7 God, my heart feels secure.
My heart feels secure.
I will sing and make music to you.
8 My spirit, wake up!
Harp and lyre, wake up!
I want to sing and make music before the sun rises.
9 Lord, I will praise you among the nations.
I will sing about you among the people of the earth.
10 Great is your love. It reaches to the heavens.
Your truth reaches to the skies.
11 God, may you be honored above the heavens.
Let your glory be over the whole earth.
David Mourns Over Absalom
19 Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said to Joab, “Let me run and take the news to the king. Let me tell him that the Lord has shown that David is in the right. The Lord has done this by saving David from his enemies.”
20 “I don’t want you to take the news to the king today,” Joab told him. “You can do it some other time. But you must not do it today, because the king’s son is dead.”
21 Then Joab said to a man from Cush, “Go. Tell the king what you have seen.” The man bowed down in front of Joab. Then he ran off.
22 Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, spoke again to Joab. He said, “I don’t care what happens to me. Please let me run behind the man from Cush.”
But Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a reward.”
23 He said, “I don’t care what happens. I want to run.”
So Joab said, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran across the plain of the Jordan River. As he ran, he passed the man from Cush.
24 David was sitting in the area between the inner and outer gates of the city. The man on guard duty went up to the roof over the entrance of the gate by the wall. As he looked out, he saw someone running alone. 25 The guard called out to the king and reported it.
The king said, “If the runner is alone, he must be bringing good news.” The runner came closer and closer.
26 Then the man on guard duty saw another runner. He called out to the man guarding the gate. He said, “Look! There’s another man running alone!”
The king said, “He must be bringing good news too.”
27 The man on guard duty said, “I can see that the first one runs like Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.”
“He’s a good man,” the king said. “He’s bringing good news.”
28 Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “Everything’s all right!” He bowed down in front of the king with his face toward the ground. He said, “You are my king and master. Give praise to the Lord your God! He has handed over to you those who lifted their hands to kill you.”
29 The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
Ahimaaz answered, “I saw total disorder. I saw it just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me to you. But I don’t know what it was all about.”
30 The king said, “Stand over there and wait.” So he stepped over to one side and stood there.
31 Then the man from Cush arrived. He said, “You are my king and master. I’m bringing you some good news. The Lord has shown that you are in the right. He has done this by rescuing you today from all those trying to kill you.”
32 The king asked the man from Cush, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
The man replied, “King David, may your enemies be like that young man. May all those who rise up to harm you be like him.”
33 The king was very upset. He went up to the room over the entrance of the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you. Absalom! My son, my son!”
14 Dear friends, I know you are looking forward to this. So try your best to be found pure and without blame. Be at peace with God. 15 Remember that while our Lord is waiting patiently to return, people are being saved. Our dear brother Paul also wrote to you about this. God made him wise to write as he did. 16 Paul writes the same way in all his letters. He speaks about what I have just told you. His letters include some things that are hard to understand. People who don’t know better and aren’t firm in the faith twist what he says. They twist the other Scriptures too. So they will be destroyed.
17 Dear friends, you have already been warned about this. So be on your guard. Then you won’t be led astray by people who don’t obey the law. Instead, you will remain safe. 18 Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Glory belongs to him both now and forever. Amen.
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