Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my (A)shepherd,
I [a]shall (B)not want.
2 He makes me lie down in (C)green pastures;
He (D)leads me beside [b](E)quiet waters.
3 He (F)restores my soul;
He (G)guides me in the [c](H)paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I (I)walk through the [d]valley of the shadow of death,
I (J)fear no [e]evil, for (K)You are with me;
Your (L)rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You (M)prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You [f]have (N)anointed my head with oil;
My (O)cup overflows.
6 [g]Surely (P)goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will [h](Q)dwell in the house of the Lord [i]forever.
22 Samuel said,
“(A)Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, (B)to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 “For rebellion is as the sin of (C)divination,
And insubordination is as (D)iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
(E)He has also rejected you from being king.”
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “(F)I have sinned; (G)I have indeed transgressed the [a]command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. 25 Now therefore, (H)please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.” 26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for (I)you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 As Samuel turned to go, (J)Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, “(K)The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. 29 Also the [b](L)Glory of Israel (M)will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; (N)but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, (O)that I may worship the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
Be Imitators of God
5 (A)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and (B)walk in love, just as Christ also (C)loved [a]you and (D)gave Himself up for us, an (E)offering and a sacrifice to God [b]as a (F)fragrant aroma.
3 But (G)immorality [c]or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among [d]saints; 4 and there must be no (H)filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which (I)are not fitting, but rather (J)giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that (K)no [e]immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom (L)of Christ and God.
6 (M)Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (N)the wrath of God comes upon (O)the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be (P)partakers with them; 8 for (Q)you were formerly (R)darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as (S)children of Light 9 (for (T)the fruit of the Light consists in all (U)goodness and righteousness and truth),
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.