Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
5 The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And (A)all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom.
6 Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in (B)the forest of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were [a]defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 8 For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And (C)his head caught fast in the oak, so he was [b]left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going.
15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for (A)the Lord has [a]freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “(B)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “(C)Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”
33 [b]The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “(D)O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! (E)Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
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.
25 Therefore, (A)laying aside falsehood, (B)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are (C)members of one another. 26 (D)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not (E)give the devil [a]an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather (F)he must labor, (G)performing with his own hands what is good, (H)so that he will have something to share with [b]one who has need. 29 Let no [c](I)unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for (J)edification [d]according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 (K)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, [e]by whom you were (L)sealed for the day of redemption. 31 (M)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be (N)put away from you, along with all (O)malice. 32 (P)Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, (Q)just as God in Christ also has forgiven [f]you.
Be Imitators of God
5 (R)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and (S)walk in love, just as Christ also (T)loved [g]you and (U)gave Himself up for us, an (V)offering and a sacrifice to God [h]as a (W)fragrant aroma.
Words to the Jews
41 (A)Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that (B)came down out of heaven.” 42 They were saying, “(C)Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother (D)we know? How does He now say, ‘(E)I have come down out of heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me (F)draws him; and I will (G)raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written (H)in the prophets, ‘(I)And they shall all be (J)taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 (K)Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes (L)has eternal life. 48 (M)I am the bread of life. 49 (N)Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which (O)comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and (P)not die. 51 (Q)I am the living bread that (R)came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, (S)he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give (T)for the life of the world is (U)My flesh.”
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.