Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
David Is Made King of Israel(A)
5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said to him, “Look, we are your own ·family [flesh and blood; L bone and flesh]. 2 ·Even [In the past] when Saul was [L our] king, you were the one who led Israel ·in battle [L out and in]. The Lord said to you, ‘You will be a shepherd for my people Israel. You will be their ·leader [ruler].’”
3 So all the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron, and he ·made [L cut] an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with them in Hebron in the presence of the Lord. Then they ·poured oil on [anointed] David to make him king ·over [of] Israel.
David Captures Jerusalem(B)
4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] forty years. 5 He was king over Judah ·in [at; from] Hebron for seven years and six months, and he was king over all Israel and Judah ·in [at; from] Jerusalem for thirty-three years.
9 So David lived in the ·strong, walled city [stronghold; fortress] and called it the City of David. David built more buildings around it, ·beginning where the land was filled in. He also built more buildings inside the city [L …from the Millo/terraces inward; C Millo may refer to earth-filled terraces that allowed the expansion of the city]. 10 He became ·stronger and stronger [more and more powerful/great], because the Lord God ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] was with him.
Jerusalem, the City of God
A psalm of the sons of Korah [C descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as Temple musicians; 1 Chr. 6:22].
48 The Lord is great; ·he should [L and greatly to] be praised
in the city of our God, on his holy mountain [C Mount Zion, the location of the Temple].
2 It is ·high and beautiful [beautiful in elevation]
·and brings joy to [L the joy of] the whole world [Lam. 2:15].
Mount Zion ·is like the high mountains [L on the sides] of ·the north [or Zaphon; C comparing Yahweh’s mountain with the mountain of Baal];
it is the city of the Great King.
3 God is within its ·palaces [citadels];
he is known as its defender.
4 Kings joined together
and came ·to attack the city [L on together; 2:1].
5 But when they saw it, they were ·amazed [astonished].
They ran away in ·fear [panic].
6 ·Fear [L Trembling] ·took hold of [seized] them;
they ·hurt [were in pain] like a woman ·having a baby [in labor].
7 You ·destroyed [broke up] the ·large trading ships [L ships of Tarshish; C large trading vessels capable of going to distant ports; Tarshish may have been in Spain (Tartessus) or an island in the eastern Mediterranean; Is. 2:16; Jon. 1:3]
with an east wind.
8 First we heard
and now we have seen
that God ·will always keep his city safe [establishes forever].
It is the city of the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts],
the city of our God. ·
9 God, we come into your Temple
to ·think [ponder; meditate] about your ·love [loyalty].
10 God, your name is known everywhere;
·all over the earth people [L the ends of the earth] praise you.
Your right hand is full of ·goodness [righteousness; or victory].
11 Mount Zion is happy
and ·all the towns [L the daughters] of Judah rejoice,
because ·your decisions are fair [or of your judgments].
12 Walk around Jerusalem
and count its towers.
13 ·Notice how strong they are [L Set your heart on its ramparts].
Look at the ·palaces [citadels].
Then you can ·tell [recount it to] ·your children about them [L a later generation].
14 This God is our God forever and ever.
He will guide us from now on.
2 I know a man in Christ [C a believer] who was ·taken up [caught up; snatched away] to the third heaven [C the presence of God] fourteen years ago [C Paul is indirectly referring to himself]. I do not know whether the man was in his body or out of his body, but God knows.
7 So that I would not become too proud ·of the wonderful things that were shown to me [or because of these extraordinary revelations; C this phrase may be part of the previous sentence], a ·painful physical problem [L thorn in the flesh] was given to me. This problem was a messenger from Satan, sent to ·beat [torment; harrass; trouble] me and keep me from being too proud. 8 I ·begged [pleaded with] the Lord three times ·to take this problem away from [L that it might leave] me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is ·enough for you [sufficient for you; all you need]. ·When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you [L For (my) power is perfected in weakness].” So I am very happy to ·brag [boast] about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can ·live [reside; or rest] in me. 10 For this reason I am ·happy [pleased; content] when I have weaknesses, insults, ·hard times [times of need], ·sufferings [persecutions], and ·all kinds of troubles [distress] ·for [for the sake of] Christ. Because when I am weak, then I am truly strong.
Jesus Goes to His Hometown(A)
6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown [C Nazareth; Matt. 2:23; Luke 2:39], and his ·followers [disciples] went with him. 2 On the Sabbath day he ·taught [L began to teach] in the synagogue. Many people heard him and were ·amazed [astonished], saying, “Where did this man get these ·teachings [L things]? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And where did he get the power to do ·miracles [L such mighty works done by his hands]? 3 ·He is just [L Isn’t this…?] the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph [C Greek: Joses], Judas, and Simon. ·And his sisters are [L Are not his sisters…?] here with us.” So the people were ·upset with [offended by] Jesus.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is ·honored everywhere [not dishonored] except in his hometown and with his own ·people [relatives; kin] and in his own ·home [household].” 5 So Jesus was not able to work any miracles there except to heal a few sick people by ·putting [laying] his hands on them. 6 He ·was amazed [wondered; marveled] ·at how many people had no faith [because of their unbelief].
Jesus Commissions the Twelve Apostles(B)
Then Jesus went [around] to other villages in that area and taught. 7 He called ·his twelve followers [L the Twelve] together and ·got ready [began] to send them out two by two and gave them authority over ·evil [defiling; L unclean] spirits. 8 This is what Jesus ·commanded [ordered; instructed] them: “Take nothing for your ·trip [journey; way] except a ·walking stick [staff]. Take no bread, no ·bag [traveler’s bag; or beggar’s purse], and no money in your ·pockets [money belts]. 9 Wear sandals, but ·take only the clothes you are wearing [do not wear/pack two tunics]. 10 When you enter a house, stay there until you leave ·that town [that area]. 11 If the people in a certain place refuse to welcome you or listen to you, leave that place. Shake its dust off your feet [C a sign of rejection and coming judgment] as a ·warning to [testimony against] them.”[a]
12 So ·the followers [L they] went out and preached that people should ·change their hearts and lives [turn from sin; repent]. 13 They ·forced [drove; cast] many demons out and ·put olive oil on [anointed with oil] many sick people and healed them.
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