Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 130
A song for those journeying to worship.
1 From the depths of disaster I appeal to You, O Eternal One:
2 Lord, hear my cry!
Attune Your ears to my humble prayer!
3 If You, Eternal One, recorded each offense,
Lord, who on earth could stand innocent?
4 But with You forgiveness exists;
that’s why true respect of You might flow.
5 So I wait for the Eternal—my soul awaits rescue—
and I put my hope in His transforming word.
6 My soul waits for the Lord to break into the world
more than night watchmen expect the break of day,
even more than night watchmen expect the break of day.
7 O Israel, ground your hope in the Eternal.
For in the Eternal lives the most loyal love,
and with Him comes the most abundant redemption.
8 He will ransom Israel
from all the sinful acts that stole you away.
25 Now there was no one in Israel more handsome than Absalom; from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, he was flawless. 26 When he cut his long hair (which he did once a year, as he needed it), his hair weighed five pounds, according to the king’s measuring system. 27 Absalom was the father of three sons and a beautiful daughter he named Tamar, after his sister.
28 Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing his father David, the king, 29 and at last Absalom sent a message to Joab that he wanted to be brought before David. But Joab did not answer his summons. Absalom sent him a second message, and again Joab did not come. 30 So Absalom gathered his servants and gave them orders.
Absalom (to servants): Joab has a barley field next to mine. Go and set it on fire.
The servants did as he ordered, and this got Joab’s attention. 31 Joab got up and confronted Absalom at his house.
Joab: Why have your servants set my field on fire?
Absalom: 32 Look, I asked you to come to take this message to the king: “Why did you ask me to come here from Geshur if you won’t see me? I’d be better off there.” Let me go see my father the king. If I am guilty of something, let him kill me.
33 So Joab brought David this message, and David sent for Absalom, who came before his father the king and lay facedown on the ground in honor of him. David kissed Absalom and welcomed him back into his good graces.
6 My spiritual brothers and sisters, if one of our faithful has fallen into a trap and is snared by sin, don’t stand idle and watch his demise. Gently restore him, being careful not to step into your own snare. 2 Shoulder each other’s burdens, and then you will live as the law of the Anointed teaches us. 3 Don’t take this opportunity to think you are better than those who slip because you aren’t; then you become the fool and deceive even yourself. 4 Examine your own works so that if you are proud, it will be because of your own accomplishments and not someone else’s. 5 Each person has his or her own burden to bear and story to write.
6 Remember to share what you have with your mentor in the Word.
7 Make no mistake: God can’t be mocked. What you give is what you get. What you sow, you harvest. 8 Those who sow seeds into their flesh will only harvest destruction from their sinful nature. But those who sow seeds into the Spirit shall harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 May we never tire of doing what is good and right before our Lord because in His season we shall bring in a great harvest if we can just persist. 10 So seize any opportunity the Lord gives you to do good things and be a blessing to everyone, especially those within our faithful family.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.