Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A Prayer for Help
130 O Lord, I have cried to You out of the deep places. 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears hear the voice of my prayers. 3 If you, Lord, should write down our sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But You are the One Who forgives, so You are honored with fear.
5 I wait for the Lord. My soul waits and I hope in His Word. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than one who watches for the morning; yes, more than one who watches for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For there is loving-kindness with the Lord. With Him we are saved for sure. 8 And He will save Israel from all their sins.
37 Absalom ran away and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David was filled with sorrow for his son every day. 38 So Absalom had run away to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 The spirit of King David wanted very much to go out to Absalom. For he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.
Absalom Returns to Jerusalem
14 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah saw that the king missed Absalom very much. 2 So Joab sent for a wise woman from Tekoa, and said to her, “Pretend to be filled with sorrow. Dress as if you were filled with sorrow, and do not pour oil on yourself. Dress like a woman who has been filled with sorrow for the dead many days. 3 Then go to the king and speak to him in this way.” And Joab told her what to say.
4 When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showing honor, and said, “Help, O king.” 5 The king said to her, “What is your trouble?” And she answered, “I am a woman whose husband has died. 6 Your woman servant had two sons. But they fought together in the field and there was no one to pull them apart. So one hit the other and killed him. 7 Now the whole family has come against your woman servant. They say, ‘Give us the one who killed his brother. We must put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.’ So I would be without a son to receive what belonged to his parents when I die. They would put out the last of the fire which is left to me. My husband would be left without a name and with no children on the earth.”
8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house. I will say what should be done about your trouble.” 9 The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “O my lord the king, the sin is on me and my father’s family. But the king and his throne are without guilt.” 10 The king said, “If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me. And he will not touch you again.” 11 Then she said, “I beg the king to remember the Lord your God, that the one who punishes for blood will stop destroying. Or my son might be destroyed.” And the king said, “As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son will fall to the ground.”
12 Then the woman said, “Let your woman servant speak to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.” 13 The woman said, “Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in deciding in this way, the king is as one who is guilty. For the king does not bring home his son who has been driven away. 14 It is sure that we will die. We are like water poured on the ground, which cannot be picked up again. But God does not take away life. He plans ways so that the one who is driven away may not be kept away from Him. 15 I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your woman servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king. It might be that the king will do what his woman servant asks. 16 For the king will hear and save his woman servant from the man who would destroy both me and my son from the gift of God.’ 17 Then your woman servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will comfort me. For my lord the king is like the angel of God in understanding what is good and bad. May the Lord your God be with you.’”
18 Then the king said to the woman, “Do not hide anything from me that I ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king speak.” 19 So the king said, “Is Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or left from anything my lord the king has said. Yes, it was your servant Joab who told me to do this. It was he who put all these words in the mouth of your woman servant. 20 Your servant Joab has done this to change the way things are now. But my lord is wise like the angel of God, to know all that is on the earth.”
21 Then the king said to Joab, “See now, I will do this. Go and bring back the young man Absalom.” 22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground in honor and thanks to the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, O my lord the king. Because the king has done what his servant has asked of him.” 23 So Joab got up and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 But the king said, “Let him go to his own house. Do not let him see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the king’s face.
15 We who have strong faith should help those who are weak. We should not live to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should live to please his neighbor. This will help him grow in faith. 3 Even Christ did not please Himself. The Holy Writings say, “The sharp words spoken against you fell on Me.” (A) 4 Everything that was written in the Holy Writings long ago was written to teach us. By not giving up, God’s Word gives us strength and hope. 5 Now the God Who helps you not to give up and gives you strength will help you think so you can please each other as Christ Jesus did. 6 Then all of you together can thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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