Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Safe Place in God

61 Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my prayer. ² I call to You from the end of the earth when my heart is weak. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. ³ For You have been a safe place for me, a tower of strength where I am safe from those who fight against me. ⁴ Let me live in Your tent forever. Let me be safe under the covering of Your wings. ⁵ For You have heard my promises, O God. You have given me that which You give to those who fear Your name. ⁶ You will add days to the life of the king. His years will be as long as the lives of many children and grandchildren added together. ⁷ He will stay forever with God. Set apart loving-kindness and truth to keep him safe. ⁸ So I will sing thanks to Your name forever and keep my promises day by day.

David’s Prayer

¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far? ¹⁹ Yet this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken of Your servant’s family in the future. And this is the way of man, O Lord God. ²⁰ What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord God. ²¹ Because of Your Word and Your own heart, You have done all these great things to let Your servant know. ²² For this reason You are great, O Lord God. There is none like You. And there is no God but You, by all that we have heard with our ears. ²³ What other nation on earth is like Your people Israel. God went to make them free to be His people and to make a name for Himself. You did a great thing for Yourself and great things for Your land. You did them before Your people whom You have made free from Egypt, from nations and their gods. ²⁴ For You have made for Yourself Your people Israel to be Your people forever. O Lord, You have become their God. ²⁵ Now, O Lord God, make sure forever the word which You have spoken about Your servant and his family. Do as You have said. ²⁶ And Your name will be honored forever. It will be said, ‘The Lord of All is God over Israel.’ May the family of Your servant David be made strong before You. ²⁷ For You, O Lord of All, the God of Israel, have shown this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So Your servant has found strength of heart to pray this prayer to You. ²⁸ And now, O Lord God, You are God. Your Words are truth. And You have promised this good thing to Your servant. ²⁹ So now may it please You to bring good to the house of Your servant, that it may last forever before You. For You have spoken, O Lord God. May Your good come to the family of Your servant forever.”

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and do what they say. They keep watch over your souls. They have to tell God what they have done. They should have joy in this and not be sad. If they are sad, it is no help to you.

¹⁸ Pray for us. Our hearts tell us we are right. We want to do the right thing always. ¹⁹ Pray for me all the more so that I will be able to come to you soon.

²⁰ God is a God of peace. He raised our Lord Jesus from the dead. Jesus is the Good Shepherd of the sheep. His blood made the New Way of Worship which will last forever. ²¹ May God give you every good thing you need so you can do what He wants. May He do in us what pleases Him through Jesus Christ. May Christ have all the shining-greatness forever! Let it be so. ²² Christian brothers, I beg of you to listen to these words that will help you. This has been a short letter. ²³ I want you to know that Timothy is out of prison. If he comes soon, I will bring him with me when I come to see you. ²⁴ Greet all of your leaders and to all those who belong to Christ. The Christians from the country of Italy greet you. ²⁵ May all of you have God’s loving-favor. Let it be so.