Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Confidence in God’s Protection.

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

David’s Prayer

¹⁸ Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “^(A)Who am I, O Lord ^[a]God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? ¹⁹ And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord God, ^(B)for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And ^(C)this is the ^[b]custom of man, O Lord God. ²⁰ Again what more can David say to You? For ^(D)You know Your servant, O Lord God! ^21 (E)For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know. ²² For this reason ^(F)You are great, O Lord God; for ^(G)there is none like You, and there is no God besides 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, before ^(K)Your people whom ^(L)You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods? ²⁴ For ^(M)You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and ^(N)You, O Lord, have become their God. ²⁵ Now therefore, O Lord God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken, ^26 (O)that Your name may be magnified forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. ²⁷ For You, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have ^[c]made a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘^(P)I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found ^[d]courage to pray this prayer to You. ²⁸ Now, O Lord God, You are God, and ^(Q)Your words are truth, and You have ^[e]promised this good thing to Your servant. ²⁹ Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord God, have spoken; and ^(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. ^[a]Let them do this with joy and not ^[b]with grief, for this would be unprofitable 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 the sooner.

Benediction

²⁰ Now ^(F)the God of peace, who ^(G)brought up from the dead the ^(H)great Shepherd of the sheep ^[c]through ^(I)the blood of the ^(J)eternal covenant, even 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)brethren, ^[d]bear with ^[e]this ^(Q)word of exhortation, for ^(R)I have written to you briefly. ^23 [f]Take notice 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 ^[g](U)saints. Those from ^(V)Italy greet you.

^25 (W)Grace be with you all.