Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 48[a]
A song, a psalm by the Korahites.
48 The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise
in the city of our God,[b] his holy hill.
2 It is lofty and pleasing to look at,[c]
a source of joy to the whole earth.[d]
Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon;[e]
it is the city of the great king.
3 God is in its fortresses;
he reveals himself as its defender.[f]
4 For[g] look, the kings assemble;[h]
they advance together.
5 As soon as they see,[i] they are shocked;[j]
they are terrified, they quickly retreat.[k]
6 Look at them shake uncontrollably,[l]
like a woman writhing in childbirth.[m]
7 With an east wind
you shatter[n] the large ships.[o]
8 We heard about God’s mighty deeds; now we have seen them,[p]
in the city of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,[q]
in the city of our God.
God makes it permanently secure.[r] (Selah)
9 Within your temple
we reflect on your loyal love, O God.
10 The praise you receive as far away as the ends of the earth
is worthy of your reputation, O God.[s]
You execute justice.[t]
11 Mount Zion rejoices;
the towns[u] of Judah are happy,[v]
because of your acts of judgment.[w]
12 Walk around[x] Zion. Encircle it.
Count its towers.
13 Consider its defenses.[y]
Walk through[z] its fortresses,
so you can tell the next generation about it.[aa]
14 For God, our God, is our defender forever.[ab]
He guides[ac] us.[ad]
3 1 However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.
2 Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite. 3 His second son[a] was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow[b] of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. 4 His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abital. 5 His sixth son was Ithream, born to David’s wife Eglah. These sons[c] were all born to David in Hebron.
Abner Defects to David’s Camp
6 As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential[d] in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish Bosheth[e] said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with[f] my father’s concubine?”[g]
8 These words of Ish Bosheth really angered Abner and he said, “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating[h] loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives[i] and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today![j] 9 God will severely judge Abner[k] if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord has promised him,[l] 10 namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!” 11 Ish Bosheth[m] was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers[n] to David saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement[o] with me, and I will do whatever I can[p] to cause all Israel to turn to you.”
7 You are looking at outward appearances.[a] If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we. 8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us[b] for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.[c] 9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters, 10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak[d] and his speech is of no account.”[e] 11 Let such a person consider this: What we say[f] by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.
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