Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 61

Assurance of God’s Protection

To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.

David’s Wars

8 Some time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

² He also defeated the Moabites and, making them lie down on the ground, measured them off with a cord; he measured two lengths of cord for those who were to be put to death and one length^[a] for those who were to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.^(A)

³ David also struck down the king of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob, as he went to restore his monument at the River Euphrates.^{(B) 4} David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for a hundred chariots.^{(C) 5} When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans.^{(D) 6} Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants to David and brought tribute. The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.^{(E) 7} David took the gold shields that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.^{(F) 8} From Betah and from Berothai, towns of Hadadezer, King David took a great amount of bronze.

⁹ When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to greet him and to congratulate him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Now Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze;^{(G) 11} these also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued,^{(H) 12} from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of the king of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob.

¹³ David won a name for himself. When he returned, he killed eighteen thousand Edomites^[b] in the Valley of Salt.^{(I) 14} He put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.^(J)

David’s Officers

¹⁵ So David reigned over all Israel, and David administered justice and equity to all his people. ¹⁶ Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;^{(K) 17} Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary;^{(L) 18} Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over^[c] the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.^(M)

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

¹⁷ From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him.^{(A) 18} When they came to him, he said to them:

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,^{(B) 19} serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. ²⁰ I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house,^{(C) 21} as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.^{[a](D) 22} And now, as a captive to the Spirit,^[b] I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,^{(E) 23} except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.^{(F) 24} But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.^(G)

²⁵ “And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again.^{(H) 26} Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,^{(I) 27} for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.^{(J) 28} Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God^[c] that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.^{[d](K) 29} I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.^{(L) 30} Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. ³¹ Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.^{(M) 32} And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.^{(N) 33} I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(O) 34} You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions.^{(P) 35} In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”^(Q)

³⁶ When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed.^{(R) 37} There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,^{(S) 38} grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.^(T)