Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
57 1 David being in the desert of Ziph, where the inhabitants did betray him, and at length in the same cave with Saul, 2 Calleth most earnestly unto God, with full confidence that he will perform his promise, and take his cause in hand. 5 Also that he will show his glory in the heavens and the earth against his cruel enemies. 9 Therefore doth he render laud and praise.
To him that excelleth. [a]Destroy not. A Psalm of David on Michtam. (A)When he fled from Saul in the cave.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon me; for my soul trusteth in thee, and in the shadow of thy wings will I [b]trust, till these [c]afflictions overpass.
2 I will call unto the most high God, even the God, that [d]performeth his promise toward me.
3 He will send from [e]heaven, and save me from the reproof of him that would swallow me. Selah. God will send his mercy, and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the children of men, that are set on fire; whose teeth are [f]spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 [g]Exalt thyself, O God, above the heaven, and let thy glory be upon all the earth.
6 They have laid a net for my steps; [h]my soul is pressed down, they have dug a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it. Selah.
7 Mine heart is [i]prepared, O God, mine heart is prepared; I will sing and give praise.
8 [j]Awake my tongue, awake viol and harp: I will awake early.
9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people, and I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the [k]clouds.
11 Exalt thyself, O God, above the heavens, and let thy glory be upon all the earth.
19 ¶ Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, I pray thee, let me run and bear the King tidings that the Lord hath [a]delivered him out of the hand of his enemies.
20 And Joab said unto him, Thou [b]shalt not be the messenger today, but thou shalt bear tidings another time, but today thou shalt bear none: for the King’s son is dead.
21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go, tell the King, what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again to Joab, What, I pray thee, if I also run after Cushi? And Joab said, Wherefore now wilt thou run my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings to bring?
23 Yet what if I run? Then he said unto him, Run. So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overwent Cushi.
24 Now David sat between the two [c]gates. And the watchman went to the top of the gate upon the wall, and lift up his eyes, and saw, and behold, a man came running alone.
25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the King said, If he be alone, [d]he bringeth tidings. And he came apace, and drew near.
26 And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called unto the potter, and said, Behold, another man runneth alone. And the King said, He also bringeth tidings.
27 And the watchman said, [e]Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. Then the King said, He is a [f]good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the King, Peace be with thee: and he fell down to the earth upon his face before the King, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath [g]shut up the men that lift up their hands against my Lord the King.
29 And the King said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the King’s [h]servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what.
30 And the King said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here: so he turned aside and stood still.
31 And behold, Cushi came, and Cushi said, [i]Tidings, my lord the King: for the Lord hath delivered thee this day out of the hand of all that rose against thee.
32 Then the King said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the King, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33 And the King was [j]moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom: would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in [a]peace, without spot and blameless.
15 (A)And suppose that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation, [b]even as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given unto him wrote to you.
16 As one that in all his Epistles speaketh of these things: [c]among the [d]which, some things are hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable, wrest, as they do also other Scriptures unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware, lest ye be also plucked away with the error of the wicked, and fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: to him be glory both now and for evermore. Amen.
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