Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

61 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

² From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³ For Thou hast been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy.

⁴ I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever; I will trust in the refuge of Thy wings. Selah

⁵ For Thou, O God, hast heard my vows; Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear Thy name.

⁶ Thou wilt prolong the king’s life, and his years shall be as many generations.

⁷ He shall abide before God for ever; O prepare mercy and truth, that they may preserve him.

⁸ So will I sing praise unto Thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

9 And David said, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

² And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, “Art thou Ziba?” And he said, “Thy servant is he.”

³ And the king said, “Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him?” And Ziba said unto the king, “Jonathan hath yet a son who is lame in his feet.”

⁴ And the king said unto him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said unto the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.”

⁵ Then King David sent and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

⁶ Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come unto David, he fell on his face and did reverence. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Behold thy servant!”

⁷ And David said unto him, “Fear not; for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.”

⁸ And he bowed himself and said, “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?”

⁹ Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, “I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.

¹⁰ Thou, therefore, and thy sons and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat; but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread always at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

¹¹ Then said Ziba unto the king, “According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table as one of the king’s sons.”

¹² And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

¹³ So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table, and was lame in both his feet.

15 Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners to hear Him.

² And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.”

³ And He spoke this parable unto them, saying,

⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it?

⁵ And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

⁶ And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

⁷ I say unto you that likewise more joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance.