Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 61

Security in God

For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Davidic.

David’s Victories

8 After this, David defeated the Philistines,^(A) subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah^[a] from Philistine control.^{[b](B) 2} He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.^(C)

³ David also defeated Hadadezer^(D) son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured 1,700 horsemen^[c] and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses^(E) and kept 100 chariots.^[d]

⁵ When the Arameans of Damascus^(F) came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Aramean men. ⁶ Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.^(G)

⁷ David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.^{(H) 8} King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah^[e] and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

⁹ When King Toi of Hamath^(I) heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him. ¹¹ King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued^(J)— ¹² from Edom,^[f] Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ David made a reputation for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites^[g] in the Valley of Salt.^{[h](K) 14} He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.^(L) The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

¹⁵ So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders

¹⁷ Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. ¹⁸ And when they came to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time^(A)— ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews^(B)— ²⁰ and that I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you anything that was profitable or from teaching it to you in public and from house to house. ²¹ I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God^(C) and faith in our Lord Jesus.^(D)

²² “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit,^[a] not knowing what I will encounter there,^{(E) 23} except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.^{(F) 24} But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course^[b] and the ministry^(G) I received from the Lord Jesus,^(H) to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

²⁵ “And now I know that none of you will ever see my face again—everyone I went about preaching the kingdom to. ²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent^[c] of everyone’s blood,^{(I) 27} for I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole plan of God.^{(J) 28} Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock^(K) that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers,^(L) to shepherd the church of God,^[d] which He purchased with His own blood.^{(M) 29} I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ And men will rise up from your own number with deviant doctrines to lure the disciples into following them.^{(N) 31} Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.^(O)

³² “And now^[e] I commit you to God and to the message of His grace,^(P) which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance^(Q) among all who are sanctified. ³³ I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(R) 34} You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my needs and for those who were with me.^{(S) 35} In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

³⁶ After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them.^{(T) 37} There was a great deal of weeping by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, ³⁸ grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.^(U)