Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Confidence in God’s Protection.

For the music director; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.

David’s Prayer

¹⁸ Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “^(A)Who am I, Lord ^[a]God, and who are the members of my household, that You have brought me this far? ¹⁹ And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord God, ^(B)for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And ^(C)this is the ^[b]custom of mankind, Lord God. ²⁰ Again what more can David say to You? For ^(D)You know Your servant, Lord God! ^21 (E)For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know. ²² For this reason ^(F)You are great, Lord God; for ^(G)there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, ^(H)according to all that we have heard with our ears. ²³ And ^(I)what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make a name for Himself, and ^(J)to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, ^[c]because of ^(K)Your people whom ^(L)You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods? ²⁴ For ^(M)You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and ^(N)You, Lord, have become their God. ²⁵ Now then, Lord God, the word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do just as You have spoken, ^26 (O)so that Your name may be great forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of armies is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. ²⁷ For You, Lord of armies, God of Israel, have ^[d]given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘^(P)I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found ^[e]courage to pray this prayer to You. ²⁸ Now then, Lord God, You are God, and ^(Q)Your words are truth; and You have ^[f]promised this good thing to Your servant. ²⁹ And now, may ^[g]it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord God, have spoken; and ^[h](R)with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

^17 (A)Obey your leaders and submit to them—for ^(B)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not ^[a]groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.

^18 (C)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a ^(D)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. ¹⁹ And I urge you all the more to do this, ^(E)so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Benediction

²⁰ Now may ^(F)the God of peace, who ^(G)brought up from the dead the ^(H)great Shepherd of the sheep ^[b]through ^(I)the blood of the ^(J)eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, ^21 (K)equip you in every good thing to do His will, ^(L)working in us that ^(M)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, ^(N)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² But ^(O)I urge you, ^(P)brothers and sisters, ^[c]listen patiently to ^[d]this ^(Q)word of exhortation, for ^(R)I have written to you briefly. ²³ Know that ^(S)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. ²⁴ Greet ^(T)all of your leaders and all the ^[e](U)saints. Those from ^(V)Italy greet you.

^25 (W)Grace be with you all.