Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 130
Awaiting Redemption
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I call to you, Lord!(A)
2 Lord, listen to my voice;
let your ears be attentive
to my cry for help.(B)
3 Lord, if you kept an account of iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?(C)
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that you may be revered.(D)
25 No man in all Israel was as handsome(A) and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw. 26 When he shaved his head—he shaved it at the end of every year because his hair got so heavy for him that he had to shave it off—he would weigh the hair from his head and it would be five pounds[a] according to the royal standard.
27 Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman. 28 Absalom resided in Jerusalem two years but never saw the king. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab was unwilling to come to him. So he sent again, a second time, but he still would not come. 30 Then Absalom said to his servants, “See, Joab has a field right next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set fire to it!” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.[b]
31 Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”
32 “Look,” Absalom explained to Joab, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? I’d be better off if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king. If I am guilty, let him kill me.”
33 Joab went to the king and told him. So David summoned Absalom, who came to the king and paid homage with his face to the ground before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.
Carry One Another’s Burdens
6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle(A) spirit,[a](B) watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.(C) 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.(D) 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing,(E) he deceives himself. 4 Let each person examine his own work,(F) and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load.
6 Let the one who is taught the word share(G) all his good things with the teacher. 7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit(H) will reap eternal life(I) from the Spirit. 9 Let us not get tired(J) of doing good,(K) for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work(L) for the good(M) of all, especially for those who belong to the household(N) of faith.(O)
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