Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
16 But to those acting against Him, God says,
“Who do you think you are?
Listing off My laws,
acting as if your life is in alignment with My ways?
17 For it’s clear that you despise My guidance;
you throw My wise words over your shoulder.
18 You play with thieves,
spend your time with adulterers.
19 Evil runs out of your mouth;
your tongue is wrapped in deceit.
20 You sit back and gossip about your brother;
you slander your mother’s son.
21 While you did these things, I kept silent;
somehow you got the idea that I was like you.
But now My silence ends, and I am going to indict you.
I’ll state the charge against you clearly, face-to-face.
22 All you who have forgotten Me, your God, should think about what I have said,
or I will tear you apart and leave no one to save you.
23 Set out a sacrifice I can accept: your thankfulness.
Do this, and you will honor Me.
Those who straighten up their lives
will know the saving grace of God.”
13 Time passed, and David’s children grew older. David’s third son, Absalom, had a sister, Tamar, who was so beautiful that David’s oldest son and heir, Amnon, fell in love with her. 2 Amnon was actually sick with desire for his half sister Tamar. Because she was a royal virgin, there was no chance for him to be with her.
3 But Amnon had a friend, his cousin Jonadab (son of David’s brother Shimeah), who was very shrewd.
Jonadab: 4 Son of the great king, why do you look so tired and run-down every day? Won’t you tell me?
Amnon: It’s Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister. I’m in love with her.
Jonadab: 5 Listen, lie down in your bed, and pretend that you are really sick. When your father comes to check on you, ask him, “Could my sister Tamar come and make me something to eat here, where I can see it, and could she feed it to me?”
6 So Amnon did as Jonadab had suggested. He lay down and faked an illness, and the king came to check on him, just as Jonadab said he would.
Amnon: Could my sister Tamar come take care of me? Could she make me some cakes here, where I can watch her, and then feed them to me?
7 David sent word home to Tamar.
David’s Message: Come to your brother Amnon’s house, and fix him something he can eat.
8 Tamar came to Amnon’s house, where he waited in bed. She made dough, kneaded it, formed cakes, and baked them, all so that he could watch her. 9 Then she set the pan in front of him and served the food, but he would not eat.
Amnon: Send everybody away.
All the servants departed and left the two of them alone.
Amnon (to Tamar): 10-11 Bring the food over to my bed, so you can feed me.
When Tamar brought to him the food she had made as he lay in bed, he grabbed her.
Amnon: Oh, my sister! Come into my bed; I want to be with you.
Tamar (struggling against him): 12 No, my brother! Please don’t violate me. Don’t do anything so shameful. You know people don’t do such things here in Israel.
13 Think about me! Do you realize what this would do to me, my prospects, my reputation? Where could I go to hide my shame?
And think about yourself! People would say you were one of the most foolish men in Israel!
Please, speak to the king if you want me so badly. He loves you and won’t keep me from you.
14 But Amnon would not listen to her; and since he was stronger, he raped her.
15 After he was done, he was filled with disgust and hated her; his hatred was stronger than the love that motivated him to rape her.
Amnon (to Tamar): Now get out of my sight!
Tamar (clinging to him): 16 No, my brother. The shame you do in sending me away is even worse than the shame you brought on by raping me.
But again he would not listen to her. 17 He called for his manservant.
Amnon: Throw this woman out of my sight, and lock the door when she’s gone. Make sure she can’t come back inside my house.
18 Because Tamar had been a royal virgin, she wore a distinctive robe with long sleeves. When Amnon’s servant threw her out into the street and barred her return, 19 Tamar heaped ashes on her head and tore her long, beautiful robe in mourning for what had happened to her. Then she walked back toward her home wailing, one hand to her head, showing everyone that tragedy and shame had fallen on her.
27 You are the body of the Anointed, the Liberating King; each and every one of you is a vital member. 28 God has appointed gifts in the assembly: first emissaries,[a] second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators, and then those who speak with various unknown languages. 29 Are all members gifted as emissaries? Are all gifted with prophetic utterance? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Or are all gifted in healing arts? Do all speak or interpret unknown languages? Of course not. 31 Pursue the greater gifts, and let me tell you of a more excellent way—love.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.