Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Hope in the Lord’s Forgiving Love.
A Song of Ascents.
130 Out of the (A)depths I have cried to You, O Lord.
2 Lord, (B)hear my voice!
Let (C)Your ears be attentive
To the (D)voice of my supplications.
3 If You, [a]Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could (E)stand?
4 But there is (F)forgiveness with You,
That You may be (G)feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my (H)soul does wait,
And [b](I)in His word do I hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen (J)for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, (K)hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is (L)lovingkindness,
And with Him is (M)abundant redemption.
8 And He will (N)redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.
Absalom’s Conspiracy
15 Now it came about after this that (A)Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him. 2 Absalom used to rise early and (B)stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “See, (C)your [a]claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king.” 4 Moreover, Absalom would say, “(D)Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice.” 5 And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and (E)kiss him. 6 In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; (F)so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 Now it came about at the end of [b]forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the Lord, in (G)Hebron. 8 For your servant (H)vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘(I)If the Lord shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” 9 The king said to 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 you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘(J)Absalom is king in Hebron.’” 11 Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, (K)who were invited and (L)went [c]innocently, and they did not know anything. 12 And Absalom sent for (M)Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city (N)Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for (O)the people increased continually with Absalom.
David Flees Jerusalem
13 Then a messenger came to David, saying, “(P)The hearts of the men of Israel are [d]with Absalom.”
Prayer and the Golden Rule
7 “[a](A)Ask, and (B)it will be given to you; [b]seek, and you will find; [c]knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you [d]who, when his son asks for a loaf, [e]will give him a stone? 10 Or [f]if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, (C)how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.