Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
53 1 He describeth the crooked nature. 4 The cruelty, 5 And punishment of the wicked, when they look not for it, 6 And desireth the deliverance of the godly, that they may rejoice together.
To him that excelleth on [a]Mahalath. A Psalm of David to give instruction.
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is [b]no God, they have corrupted and done abominable wickedness, there is none that doeth good.
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that would understand and [c]seek God.
3 (A)Everyone is gone back: they are altogether corrupt: there is none that doeth good, no not one.
4 Do not the [d]workers of iniquity know that they eat up my people as they eat bread? they call not upon God.
5 There they were afraid for fear, where no [e]fear was: for God hath scattered the [f]bones of him that besieged thee: thou hast put them to confusion, because God hath cast them off.
6 Oh give salvation unto Israel out of Zion: when God turneth the captivity of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
23 And the garrison of the Philistines came out to the passage of Michmash.
14 14 Jonathan and his armor bearer put the Philistines to flight. 24 Saul bindeth the people by an oath, not to eat till evening. 32 The people eat with the blood. 38 Saul would put Jonathan to death. 45 The people deliver him.
1 Then on a day Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, [a]Come and let us go over toward the Philistines garrison, that is yonder on the other side, but he told not his father.
2 And Saul tarried in the border of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree, which was in Migron, and the people that were with him, were about six hundred men.
3 And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, (A)Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, was the Lord’s Priest in Shiloh, and wore an Ephod: and the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
4 ¶ Now in the way whereby Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines garrison, there was a [b]sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: the name of the one was called Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
5 The one rock stretched from the North toward Michmash, and the other was from the South toward Gibeah.
6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these [c]uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work with us: for it is [d]not hard to the Lord (B)to save with many, or with few.
7 And he that bare his armor, said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: go where it pleaseth thee: behold, [e]I am with thee as thine heart desireth.
8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we go over unto those men, and will show ourselves unto them.
9 [f]If they say on this wise to us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place, and not go up to them.
10 But if they say, Come up unto us, then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
11 So they both showed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, See, the Hebrews come out of the [g]holes wherein they had hid themselves.
12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, Come up to us: for we will show you a thing. Then Jonathan said unto his armor bearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
13 So Jonathan went up upon [h]his hands and upon his feet, and his armor bearer after him: and some fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer slew others after him.
14 So the [i]first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, as it were within half an acre of land which two oxen plow.
15 And there was a fear in the host, and in the field, and among all the people: the garrison also, and they that went out to spoil, were afraid themselves: and the earth [j]trembled: for it was stricken with fear by God.
16 ¶ Then the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin saw: and behold, the multitude was discomfited, and smitten as they went.
17 Therefore said Saul unto the people that were with him, Search now, and see, who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
18 And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the Ark of God (for the Ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel)
19 ¶ And while Saul talked unto the Priest, the noise that was in the host of the Philistines, spread farther abroad, and increased: therefore Saul said unto the Priest, [k]Withdraw thine hand.
20 And Saul was assembled with all the people that were with him, and they came to the battle: and behold, (C)every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
21 Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philistines beforetime, and were come with them into all parts of the host, even they also turned to be with the [l]Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Also all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines were fled, they followed after them in the battle.
23 And so the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle continued unto Beth Aven.
11 ¶ [a]Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
12 As many as desire to make a [b]fair show in the [c]flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only because they would not suffer persecution for the [d]cross of Christ.
13 For they themselves which are circumcised keep not the Law, but desire to have you circumcised, that they might rejoice in [e]your flesh.
14 [f]But God forbid that I should [g]rejoice, but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace shall be upon them, and mercy, and upon the [h]Israel of God.
17 [i]From henceforth let no man put me to business: for I bear, in my body the [j]marks of the [k]Lord Jesus.
18 [l]Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your [m]spirit, Amen.
¶ Unto the Galatians written from Rome.
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