Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

14 The fool hath said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; they have done abominable works; there is none that doeth good.

² The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God.

³ They have all turned aside; they are all together become filthy. There is none that doeth good; no, not one.

⁴ Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread and call not upon the Lord?

⁵ There were they in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous.

⁶ Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge.

⁷ Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When the Lord bringeth back His people from captivity, Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad.

⁶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they were a stench before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of King Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

⁷ And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men.

⁸ And the children of Ammon came out and set up in battle array at the entrance to the gate; and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

⁹ When Joab saw that the front of the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose from all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians;

¹⁰ and the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

¹¹ And he said, “If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

¹² Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people and for the cities of our God; and the Lord do that which seemeth to Him good.”

¹² Therefore, holy and beloved, as the elect of God, put on hearts of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering,

¹³ forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against another: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful.

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by Him.