Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
111 1 He giveth thanks to the Lord for his merciful works toward his Church, 10 and declareth wherein true wisdom and right knowledge consisteth.
Praise ye the Lord.
1 I will [a]praise the Lord with my whole heart in the assembly and the congregation of the just.
2 The works of the Lord are [b]great, and ought to be sought out of all them that love them.
3 His work is beautiful and glorious, and his righteousness endureth forever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be had in remembrance: the Lord is merciful and full of compassion.
5 He hath given [c]a [d]portion unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath showed to his people the power of his works, in giving unto them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The [e]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 unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and fearful is his Name.
10 [f]The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord: all they that observe [g]them, have good understanding: his praise endureth forever.
The First Book of the Kings
1 3 Abishag keepeth David in his extreme age. 5 Adonijah usurpeth the kingdom. 30 Solomon is anointed king, 50 Adonijah fleeth to the altar.
1 Now when King David was [a]old, and stricken in years, they covered him with clothes, but no [b]heat came unto him.
2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin, and let her [c]stand before the king, and cherish him: and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the King may get heat.
3 So they sought for a fair young maid throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found one Abishag [d]a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
4 And the maid was exceedingly fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him, but the king knew her not.
5 ¶ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying, I will be king. And he got him chariots and horsemen, and [e]fifty men to run before him.
6 And his father would not displease him from his [f]childhood, to say, Why hast thou done so? And he was a very goodly man, and his mother bare him next after Absalom.
7 And he [g]took counsel of Joab the son of Zeruiah, and of Abiathar the Priest: and they [h]helped forward 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, which 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 [i]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 [j]the mighty men, and Solomon his brother he called not.
11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of (A)Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
12 Now therefore come, and I will now give thee counsel, how to save thine own [k]life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
13 Go, and get thee in unto King David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O King, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why is then Adonijah King?
14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the King, I also will come in after thee, and [l]confirm thy words.
15 ¶ So Bathsheba went in unto the King into the chamber, and the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the King.
16 And Bathsheba bowed and made obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What is thy matter?
17 And she answered him, My lord, thou swearest by the Lord thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
18 And behold, now is Adonijah king, and now my lord, O King, thou knowest [m]it not.
19 And he hath offered many oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep, and hath called all the sons of the King, and Abiathar the Priest, and Joab the Captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not bidden.
20 And thou, my lord, O King, knowest that the eyes of all Israel are on thee, that thou shouldest tell them, who should sit on the throne of my lord the King after him.
21 For else when my lord the King shall sleep with his fathers, I and my son Solomon shall be [n]reputed [o]vile.
22 And lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan also the Prophet came in.
23 And they told the King, saying, Behold, Nathan the Prophet. And when he was come in to the King, he made obeisance before the king upon his face [p]to the ground.
24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain many oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the Priest: and behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, [q]God save king Adonijah.
26 But me thy servant, and Zadok the Priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon hath he not called.
27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed it unto thy [r]servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
28 ¶ Then king David answered, and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the King.
29 And the King sware, saying, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
30 That as I [s]sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my place, so will I certainly do this day.
8 ¶ [a]Now Stephen full of faith and [b]power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 [c]Then there arose certain of the [d]Synagogue, which are called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, and of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, and disputed with Stephen.
10 [e]But they were not able to resist the wisdom, and the Spirit by the which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and God.
12 [f]Thus they moved the people and the Elders, and the Scribes: and running upon him, caught him, and brought him to the Council,
13 [g]And set forth false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not 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 that sat in the Council looked steadfastly on him, they [h]saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel.
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