Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹⁰ Then David rested with his fathers^(A) and was buried in the city of David.^{(B) 11} The length of time David reigned over Israel was 40 years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem.^{(C) 12} Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingship was firmly established.^(D)

³ Solomon loved the Lord^(A) by walking in the statutes of his father David,^(B) but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

⁴ The king went to Gibeon^(C) to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar.^{(D) 5} At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon^(E) in a dream at night.^(F) God said, “Ask.^(G) What should I give you?”

⁶ And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and^[a] integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne,^(H) as it is today.^(I)

⁷ “Lord my God, You have now made Your servant king in my father David’s place.^(J) Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.^{[b](K) 8} Your servant is among Your people You have chosen,^(L) a^[c] people too numerous to be numbered or counted.^{(M) 9} So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge^(N) Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”^(O)

¹⁰ Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life^[d] or riches for yourself,^(P) or the death^[e] of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to understand justice,^{(Q) 12} I will therefore do what you have asked.^(R) I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.^{(S) 13} In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor,^(T) so that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life.^{(U) 14} If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”^(V)

Psalm 111

Praise for the Lord’s Works

Consistency in the Christian Life

¹⁵ Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— ¹⁶ making the most of the time,^[a](A) because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So don’t be foolish, but understand^(B) what the Lord’s will^(C) is. ¹⁸ And don’t get drunk^(D) with wine,^(E) which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:^(F)

⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live^(A) forever.^(B) The bread that I will give for the life^(C) of the world is My flesh.”^(D)

⁵² At that, the Jews argued^(E) among themselves,^(F) “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

⁵³ So Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man^(G) and drink His blood,^(H) you do not have life in yourselves. ⁵⁴ Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood^(I) has eternal life, and I will raise^(J) him up on the last day, ⁵⁵ because My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood lives in Me, and I in him.^{(K) 57} Just as the living^(L) Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live^(M) because of Me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna^[a] your fathers ate—and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.”^(N)