Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

130 Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord;

² Lord, hear my voice! Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

³ If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

⁴ But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.

⁶ My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning— I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

⁷ Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption.

⁸ And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

15 And it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared himself chariots and horses and fifty men to run before him.

² And Absalom rose up early and stood beside the way of the gate; and it was so that, when any man who had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him and said, “Of what city art thou?” And he said, “Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”

³ And Absalom said unto him, “See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed by the king to hear thee.”

⁴ Absalom said moreover, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!”

⁵ And it was so that, when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand and took him and kissed him.

⁶ And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷ And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, “I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron.

⁸ For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’”

⁹ And the king said unto him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

¹⁰ But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, ‘Absalom reigneth in Hebron.’”

¹¹ And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem who were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

¹² And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.

¹³ And there came a messenger to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”

⁷ “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

⁸ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

⁹ “Or what man is there among you whom, if his son ask for bread, will give him a stone?

¹⁰ Or if he ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?

¹¹ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?