Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

3 The psalm of David when he fled from the face of his son Absalom.

² Why, O Lord, are they multiplied that afflict me? many are they who rise up against me.

³ Many say to my soul: There is no salvation for him in his God.

⁴ But thou, O Lord art my protector, my glory, and the lifter up of my head.

⁵ I have cried to the Lord with my voice: and he hath heard me from his holy hill.

⁶ I have slept and taken my rest: and I have risen up, because the Lord hath protected me.

⁷ I will not fear thousands of the people, surrounding me: arise, O Lord; save me, O my God.

⁸ For thou hast struck all them who are my adversaries without cause: thou hast broken the teeth of sinners.

⁹ Salvation is of the Lord: and thy blessing is upon thy people.

¹⁹ And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and not one of his words fell to the ground.

²⁰ And all Israel from Dan to Bersabee, knew that Samuel was a faithful prophet of the Lord.

²¹ And the Lord again appeared in Silo, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Silo, according to the word of the Lord. And the word of Samuel came to pass to all Israel.

4 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight: and Israel went out to war against the Philistines, and camped by the Stone of help. And the Philistines came to Aphec,

² And put their army in array against Israel. And when they had joined battle, Israel turned their backs to the Philistines, and there was slain in that fight here and there in the fields about four thousand men.

²⁶ For if we sin wilfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins,

²⁷ But a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire which shall consume the adversaries.

²⁸ A man making void the law of Moses, dieth without any mercy under two or three witnesses:

²⁹ How much more, do you think he deserveth worse punishments, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath esteemed the blood of the testament unclean, by which he was sanctified, and hath offered an affront to the Spirit of grace?

³⁰ For we know him that hath said: Vengeance belongeth to me, and I will repay. And again: The Lord shall judge his people.

³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.