Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

¹ ¶ LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.

² There are many who say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

³ But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory and the lifter up of my head.

⁴ ¶ I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he answered me out of the mountain of his holiness. Selah.

⁵ I laid me down and slept; I awaked, for the LORD sustained me.

⁶ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about.

⁷ Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God, for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the jawbone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

⁸ Salvation belongs unto the LORD; thy blessing shall be upon thy people. Selah.

⁵ Then thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, My father, the Syrian, perishing of hunger went down into Egypt and sojourned there with a few and became there a nation, great, mighty, and many;

⁶ and the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us and laid upon us hard bondage.

⁷ And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labour and our oppression.

⁸ And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terribleness and with signs and with wonders;

⁹ and he has brought us into this place and has given us this land, even a land that flows with milk and honey.

¹⁰ And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God and worship before the LORD thy God.

³² But bring to memory the former days, in which, after ye received the light, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

³³ on the one hand ye were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and on the other ye became companions of those that were so used.

³⁴ For ye had compassion of me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing that in yourselves ye have a better substance in the heavens, and that abides.

³⁵ Do not lose, therefore, this your confidence, which has great recompense of reward;

³⁶ for patience is necessary, so that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

³⁷ For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come and will not tarry.

³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

³⁹ But we are not of those who draw back unto perdition, but faithful unto the saving of the soul.