Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 21
Thanksgiving for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1 In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord,
and in your help how greatly he exults!(A)
2 You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah(B)
3 For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold on his head.(C)
4 He asked you for life; you gave it to him—
length of days forever and ever.(D)
5 His glory is great through your help;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.(E)
6 You bestow on him blessings forever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.(F)
8 Your hand will find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.(G)
9 You will make them like a fiery furnace
when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and fire will consume them.(H)
10 You will destroy their offspring from the earth
and their children from among humankind.(I)
11 If they plan evil against you,
if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.(J)
12 For you will put them to flight;
you will aim at their faces with your bows.(K)
13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.(L)
11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees and carpenters and masons who built David a house.(A) 12 David then perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13 In Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives, and more sons and daughters were born to David.(B) 14 These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,(C) 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.(A) 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.[a](B) 9 Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!(C) 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Indeed, we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about, for the Lord is compassionate and merciful.(D)
12 Above all, brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.[b]
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.