Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Psalm of David.

¹ ¶ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters.

³ He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me.

⁵ Thou shalt prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup is running over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will rest in the house of the LORD for ever.

²² And Samuel said, Does the LORD have as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in hearing the voice of the LORD? Behold, to hear is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams.

²³ For rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and to break the word of the Lord is iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected thee from being king.

²⁴ ¶ Then Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and thy words because I feared the people and consented unto their voice.

²⁵ Now, therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin and turn again with me that I may worship the LORD.

²⁶ And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected thee from being king over Israel.

²⁷ And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

²⁸ And Samuel said unto him, The LORD has rent the kingdom of Israel from thee today and has given it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou.

²⁹ And also the Overcomer of Israel will not lie nor repent concerning this, for he is not a man, that he should repent.

³⁰ Then he said, I have sinned; yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people and before Israel and turn again with me that I may worship the LORD thy God.

³¹ So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshipped the LORD.

5 ¶ Be ye therefore imitators of God, as dear children

² and walk in charity even as the Christ also has loved us and has given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

³ ¶ But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becomes saints,

⁴ neither dishonest words nor foolishness nor low jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks.

⁵ For this ye know, that no fornicator nor unclean person nor covetous man, who is also an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

⁶ Let no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

⁷ Be not ye, therefore, partakers with them.

⁸ For in another time ye were darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord: walk as children of light;

⁹ (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),