Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
111 I will praise the LORD with my whole heart in the assembly and the congregation of the Just.
2 The works of the LORD are great and are sought out by all those who love them.
3 His work is beautiful and glorious; and His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has made His wonderful works to be held in remembrance. The LORD is merciful and full of compassion.
5 He has given a portion to those who fear Him. He will be ever-mindful of His Covenant.
6 He has shown the power of His works to His people, in giving to them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of His hands are truth and judgment. All His statutes are true.
8 They are established forever and ever and are done in truth and equity.
9 He sent redemption to His people. He has commanded His Covenant forever. Holy and fearful is His Name.
10 The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD. All those who observe them have good understanding. His praise endures forever. Praise the LORD
1 Now when King David was old and stricken in years, they covered him with clothes, but no heat came to him.
2 Therefore, his servants said to him, “Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin. And let her stand before the king and care for him. And let her lie in your bosom, so that my lord the king may get warm.”
3 So they sought for a fair young maid throughout all the territory of Israel, and found one Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
4 And the maid was exceedingly fair and cared for the king and ministered to him. But the king did not know her.
5 Then Adonijah, the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he got himself chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run before him.
6 And his father had never disciplined him since his childhood, to say, “Why have you done this?” And he was a very pleasant man, born next after Absalom.
7 And he took counsel from Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and from Abiathar the Priest. And they looked after Adonijah.
8 But Zadok the Priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the Prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the men of might who were with David, were not with Adonijah.
9 Then, Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants.
10 But Nathan the Prophet and Benaiah and the mighty men and Solomon, his brother, he did not call.
11 Therefore, Nathan spoke to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, reigns, and David our lord does not know it?
12 “Now, therefore, come. I will now give you counsel, how to save your own life and the life of your son, Solomon.
13 “Go, and get yourself in to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not swear to your handmaid, my lord, O king, saying, “Assuredly, Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?” Why, then, is Adonijah king?’
14 “Behold, while you are still talking there with the king, I will also come in after you and confirm your words.”
15 So, Bathsheba went in to the king, into the chamber. And the king was very old. And Abishag the Shunammite ministered to the king.
16 And Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself to the king. And the king said, “What is your wish?”
17 And she answered him, “My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your handmaid, ‘Assuredly Solomon (your son) shall reign after me. And he shall sit upon my throne.’
18 “And behold, now Adonijah is king. And now, my lord, O king, you do not know it.
19 “And he has offered many oxen and fat cattle and sheep, and has called all the sons of the king and Abiathar the Priest and Joab the captain of the army. But Solomon, your servant, he has not called.
20 “And you, my lord, O king, know that the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you would tell them who would sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
21 “For otherwise, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, I and my son Solomon shall have reputations as offenders.”
22 And lo, while she still talked with the king, Nathan the Prophet also came in.
23 And they told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the Prophet.” And when he had come in to the king, he prostrated himself before the king upon his face, to the ground.
24 And Nathan said, “My lord, O king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me and he shall sit upon my throne?’
25 “For he has gone down this day and has killed many oxen and fat cattle and sheep and has called all the king’s sons and the captains of the army and Abiathar the Priest. And behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, ‘God save King Adonijah!’
26 “But me, your servant, and Zadok the Priest and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he has not called.
27 “Is this thing done by my lord the king and you have not told your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
28 Then, King David answered, and said, “Call Bathsheba.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.
29 And the king swore, saying, “As the LORD lives, Who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
30 “just as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me and he shall sit upon my throne in my place,’ so will I certainly do this day.”
8 Now Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain ones out of the synagogue who are called ‘Freedmen’ – as well as Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and ones from Cilicia and Asia - and disputed with Stephen.
10 But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they incited men, who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God!”
12 Thus they moved the people and the elders, and the scribes. And running after him, caught him, and brought him to the Council.
13 And they set forth false witnesses, who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law!
14 “For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the ordinances which Moses gave us!”
15 And as all who sat in the Council looked steadfastly at him, they saw his face as the face of an angel.
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