Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
5 But the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “Be gentle with young Absalom for my sake.” All the soldiers heard as the king gave commands to the various leaders with regard to Absalom.
Defeat of Absalom’s Forces. 6 David’s army then took the field against Israel, and a battle was fought in the forest near Mahanaim. 7 The forces of Israel were defeated by David’s servants, and the casualties there that day were heavy—twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread out over that entire region, and the forest consumed more combatants that day than did the sword.
Death of Absalom. 9 Absalom unexpectedly came up against David’s servants. He was mounted on a mule, and, as the mule passed under the branches of a large oak tree, his hair caught fast in the tree. He hung between heaven and earth while the mule under him kept going.
15 When ten of Joab’s young armor-bearers closed in on Absalom, and killed him with further blows,
31 When the Cushite came in, he said, “Let my lord the king receive the good news that this day the Lord has freed you from the power of all who rose up against you.” 32 But the king asked the Cushite, “Is young Absalom all right?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you with evil intent be as that young man!”
Psalm 130[a]
Prayer for Pardon and Mercy
1 A song of ascents.
I
Out of the depths[b] I call to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my cry!
May your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.(A)
3 If you, Lord, keep account of sins,
Lord, who can stand?(B)
4 But with you is forgiveness
and so you are revered.[c]
II
5 I wait for the Lord,
my soul waits
and I hope for his word.(C)
6 My soul looks for the Lord
more than sentinels for daybreak.(D)
More than sentinels for daybreak,
7 let Israel hope in the Lord,
For with the Lord is mercy,
with him is plenteous redemption,(E)
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all its sins.(F)
IV. Daily Conduct, an Expression of Unity[a]
Rules for the New Life. 25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another.(A) 26 Be angry but do not sin;(B) do not let the sun set on your anger,[b] 27 and do not leave room for the devil.(C) 28 The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work[c] with his [own] hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need.(D) 29 No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.(E) 30 And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.[d] 31 All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.(F) 32 [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.(G)
Chapter 5
1 So be imitators of God,[e] as beloved children,(H) 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.(I)
41 The Jews murmured about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” 42 and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”(A) 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring[a] among yourselves.(B) 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets:
‘They shall all be taught by God.’
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.(C) 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.(D) 47 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;(E) 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”(F)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.