Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

61 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

² From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³ For Thou hast been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy.

⁴ I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever; I will trust in the refuge of Thy wings. Selah

⁵ For Thou, O God, hast heard my vows; Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear Thy name.

⁶ Thou wilt prolong the king’s life, and his years shall be as many generations.

⁷ He shall abide before God for ever; O prepare mercy and truth, that they may preserve him.

⁸ So will I sing praise unto Thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

¹⁸ Then went King David in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto?

¹⁹ And this was yet a small thing in Thy sight, O Lord God; but Thou hast spoken also of Thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?

²⁰ And what can David say more unto Thee? For Thou, Lord God, knowest Thy servant.

²¹ For Thy word’s sake and according to Thine own heart hast Thou done all these great things to make Thy servant know them.

²² Therefore Thou art great, O Lord God; for there is none like Thee, neither is there any God besides Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

²³ And what one nation on the earth is like Thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to Himself, and to make Him a name and to do for You great things and fearsome for Thy land, before Thy people whom Thou redeemed to Thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

²⁴ For Thou hast confirmed for Thyself Thy people Israel to be a people unto Thee for ever; and Thou, Lord, art become their God.

²⁵ And now, O Lord God, the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as Thou hast said.

²⁶ And let Thy name be magnified for ever saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel’; and let the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee.

²⁷ For Thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to Thy servant, saying, ‘I will build thee a house.’ Therefore hath Thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto Thee.

²⁸ And now, O Lord God, Thou art that God, and Thy words be true, and Thou hast promised this goodness unto Thy servant.

²⁹ Therefore now let it please Thee to bless the house of Thy servant, that it may continue for ever before Thee; for Thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it, and with Thy blessing let the house of Thy servant be blessed for ever.”

¹⁷ Obey those who have the rule over you and submit yourselves, for they keep watch over your souls as ones who must give an account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you.

¹⁸ Pray for us, for we trust we have a good conscience in all things, willing to live honestly.

¹⁹ But I beseech you the more earnestly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

²⁰ Now the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

²¹ make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

²² And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation, for I have written this letter unto you with few words.

²³ Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

²⁴ Salute all those who have the rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy salute you.

²⁵ Grace be with you all. Amen.