Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
115 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and for Thy truth’s sake.
2 Why should the heathen say, “Where now is their God?”
3 But our God is in the heavens; He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not.
6 They have ears, but they hear not; noses have they, but they smell not.
7 They have hands, but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they through their throat.
8 They that make them are like unto them; so is everyone that trusteth in them.
9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.
11 Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord hath been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.
14 The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
15 Ye are blessed by the Lord who made heaven and earth.
16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth hath He given to the children of men.
17 The dead praise not the Lord, neither do any that go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord!
15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over My people Israel, that he may save My people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come unto Me.”
17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, “Behold the man whom I spoke to thee of! This same shall reign over My people.”
18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, “Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.”
19 And Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let thee go and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them, for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee and on all thy father’s house?”
21 And Saul answered and said, “Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then speakest thou so to me?”
22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and made them sit in the chiefest place among those who were bidden, who were about thirty persons.
23 And Samuel said unto the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, ‘Set it by thee.’”
24 And the cook took up the shoulder and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Behold that which is left! Set it before thee and eat; for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 And when they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26 And they arose early. And it came to pass about the dawn of the day that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, “Up, that I may send thee away.” And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Bid the servant pass on before us.” (And he passed on.) “But stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God.”
10 Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it upon his head, and kissed him and said, “Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over His inheritance?
3 This is a true saying: If a man desire the office of bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt at teaching;
3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 one who ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all dignity.
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 He must not be a novice in the faith, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good reputation with those who are outsiders, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be serious, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for filthy lucre,
9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.