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 Wins Other Battles
8 After this David won the battle against the Philistines. And he took the most important city from the Philistines. 2 He won the battle against Moab, and had them lie down on the ground in straight groups. Two groups were put to death, and one group was kept alive. The Moabites became servants to David and paid taxes to him.
3 Then David won the battle against Hadadezer the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to get his power again at the Euphrates River. 4 David took 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers from him. He cut the legs of some of the war-wagon horses, but saved enough of them for 100 war-wagons. 5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 Then he put groups of soldiers in Damascus of Syria. The Syrians became servants to David and were made to pay taxes to him. The Lord helped David every place he went. 7 David took the coverings of gold which were carried by Hadadezer’s army, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And he took a very large amount of brass from Hadadezer’s cities, Betah and Berothai.
9 Now Toi king of Hamath heard that David had won the battle against the whole army of Hadadezer. 10 So Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to greet him and pray that good would come to him, because David had fought against Hadadezer and had won. Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him objects of silver, gold and brass. 11 David set these apart to the Lord, together with the silver and gold he had set apart from all the nations he had taken in battle. 12 He had taken silver and gold from Syria, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the things taken from Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 So David’s name was very respected when he returned from killing 18,000 Syrians in the Valley of Salt. 14 And he put groups of soldiers in Edom. In all Edom he put soldiers, and all the Edomites became servants to David. The Lord helped David every place he went.
15 So David ruled all of Israel. He did what was right and good and fair for all his people. 16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was the head of the army. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud wrote down the important things of the nation. 17 Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were religious leaders. Seraiah was the writer. 18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada ruled the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David’s sons were the king’s helpers.
Paul Meets with the Leaders of the Church of Ephesus
17 From Miletus he sent word to Ephesus. He asked the leaders of the church to come to him. 18 When they got there, he said to them, “From the first day that I came to Asia you have seen what my life has been like. 19 I worked for the Lord without pride. Because of the trouble the Jews gave me, I have had many tears. 20 I always told you everything that would be a help to you. I taught you in open meetings and from house to house. 21 I preached to the Jews and to the Greeks. I told them to turn from their sin to God and to put their trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 “As you see, I am on my way to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit makes me go. I do not know what will happen to me there. 23 But in every city I have been, the Holy Spirit tells me that trouble and chains will be waiting for me there. 24 But I am not worried about this. I do not think of my life as worth much, but I do want to finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me to do. My work is to preach the Good News of God’s loving-favor.
25 “All of you have heard me preach the Good News. I am sure that none of you will ever see my face again. 26 I tell you this day that I am clean and free from the blood of all men. 27 I told you all the truth about God. 28 Keep a careful watch over yourselves and over the church. The Holy Spirit has made you its leaders. Feed and care for the church of God. He bought it with His own blood.
29 “Yes, I know that when I am gone, hungry wolves will come in among you. They will try to destroy the church. 30 Also men from your own group will begin to teach things that are not true. They will get men to follow them. 31 I say again, keep watching! Remember that for three years I taught everyone of you night and day, even with tears.
32 “And now, my brothers, I give you over to God and to the word of His love. It is able to make you strong and to give you what you are to have, along with all those who are set apart for God. 33 I have not tried to get anyone’s money or clothes. 34 You all know that these hands worked for what I needed and for what those with me needed. 35 In every way I showed you that by working hard like this we can help those who are weak. We must remember what the Lord Jesus said, ‘We are more happy when we give than when we receive.’ ”
36 As he finished talking, he got down on his knees and prayed with them all. 37 They cried and put their arms around Paul and kissed him. 38 What made them sad most of all was he said that they would never see his face again. Then they went with him to the ship.
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