Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

57 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in Thee. Yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge until these calamities pass by.

² I will cry unto God Most High, unto God that performeth all things for me.

³ He shall send from heaven and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up; Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

⁴ My soul is among lions, and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

⁵ Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Thy glory be above all the earth.

⁶ They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down. They have dug a pit before me, into the midst whereof they themselves are fallen. Selah

⁷ My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise.

⁸ Awake, my glory! Awake, psaltery and harp! I myself will awaken early.

⁹ I will praise Thee, O Lord, among the people; I will sing unto Thee among the nations.

¹⁰ For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds.

¹¹ Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Thy glory be above all the earth.

¹⁹ Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, “Let me now run and bear the king tidings, how the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.”

²⁰ And Joab said unto him, “Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.”

²¹ Then said Joab to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what thou hast seen.” And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab and ran.

²² Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, “But come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?”

²³ “But howsoever,” said he, “let me run.” And he said unto him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

²⁴ And David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone.

²⁵ And the watchman cried and told the king. And the king said, “If he be alone, there are tidings in his mouth.” And he came apace and drew near.

²⁶ And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called unto the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running alone.” And the king said, “He also bringeth tidings.”

²⁷ And the watchman said, “I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.”

²⁸ And Ahimaaz called and said unto the king, “All is well.” And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king and said, “Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.”

²⁹ And the king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.”

³⁰ And the king said unto him, “Turn aside and stand here.” And he turned aside and stood still.

³¹ And behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Tidings, my lord the king; for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all those who rose up against thee.”

³² And the king said unto the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And the Cushite answered, “The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.”

³³ And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, thus he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.

¹⁵ And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you,

¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things. Therein are some things hard to understand, which those who are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction.

¹⁷ Ye therefore, beloved, seeing that ye know these things beforehand, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

¹⁸ But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.