Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Prayer of a Suffering Man

38 O Lord, do not speak sharp words to me when You are angry. Do not punish me in Your burning anger. ² For Your arrows have cut deep into me. And Your hand has come down upon me. ³ My body is in pain because of Your anger. There is no strength in my bones because of my sin. ⁴ For my sins are gone over my head. Like a heavy load, they weigh too much for me. ⁵ My sores smell and grow bigger because I do foolish things. ⁶ I cannot stand straight but keep my head down. I have sorrow all day long ⁷ for my body is filled with burning pain. There is no strength in my body. ⁸ I am weak and broken. I cry because of the pain in my heart. ⁹ Lord, all my desire is before You. And my breathing deep within is not hidden from You. ¹⁰ My heart beats fast. My strength leaves me. Even the light of my eyes has gone from me. ¹¹ My loved ones and my friends stay away from me because of my sickness. My family stands far away. ¹² Those who want to take my life set their traps. And those who want to destroy me talk about ways to do it. They make their sinful plans all day long.

¹³ But like a deaf man, I do not hear. I am like one who cannot speak and does not open his mouth. ¹⁴ Yes, I am like a man who does not hear, and whose mouth does not argue. ¹⁵ For I hope in You, O Lord. You will answer, O Lord my God. ¹⁶ For I said, “Do not let them be happy and raise themselves up against me when my foot trips.” ¹⁷ For I am ready to fall. And my sorrow is always with me. ¹⁸ For I tell my wrong-doings. I am full of sorrow because of my sin. ¹⁹ But those who fight against me are full of action and strength. There are many who hate me without reason. ²⁰ They pay what is bad for what is good. They are against me because I follow what is good. ²¹ Do not leave me alone, O Lord! O my God, do not be far from me! ²² Hurry to help me, O Lord, Who saves me!

David Did Not Kill Saul

24 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “See, David is in the desert of Engedi.” ² Then Saul took 3,000 chosen men from all Israel, and went to find David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. ³ He came to the places where the sheep were kept on the way. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to get rid of his body waste. Now David and his men were sitting farther back in the cave. ⁴ David’s men said to David, “See, this is the day the Lord told you, ‘See, I am about to give the one who hates you into your hand. You will do to him what you think is best.’” Then David got up and cut off a piece of Saul’s clothing in secret. ⁵ After this, David felt guilty in his heart because he had cut off a piece of Saul’s clothing. ⁶ So he said to his men, “May the Lord not let me put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.” ⁷ David stopped his men with these words. He did not let them go against Saul. So Saul stood up and left the cave, and went on his way.

⁸ After this David got up and went out of the cave and called to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David put his face to the ground, showing much respect. ⁹ David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘David wants to hurt you’? ¹⁰ See, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you to me today in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.’ ¹¹ Now, my father, see the piece of your clothing in my hand. I cut off the piece of your clothing but did not kill you. So know and understand that I have no desire to do wrong to you. I have not sinned against you, yet you come wanting to kill me. ¹² May the Lord judge between you and me. May He punish you for your action against me. But my hand will not be against you. ¹³ As the men of long ago said in their wisdom, ‘Out of the sinful comes sin,’ but my hand will not be against you. ¹⁴ After whom has the king come out? After whom are you running? After a dead dog? After a little bug? ¹⁵ May the Lord be the One to judge between you and me. May He see and help me, and save me from you.” ¹⁶ When David had finished speaking to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul gave a loud cry. ¹⁷ He said to David, “You are more right and good than I. For you have brought good to me, while I have done wrong to you. ¹⁸ You have said today that you have done good to me. The Lord gave me to you and you did not kill me. ¹⁹ If a man finds the one who hates him, will he let him go away safe? May the Lord bring good to you for what you have done for me this day. ²⁰ Now I know that you will be king for sure. The nation of Israel will be made strong under your power. ²¹ So promise to me by the Lord that you will not destroy my children after me. Promise that you will not destroy my name from my father’s family.” ²² David gave Saul his promise, and Saul went home. But David and his men went up to the safe place.

How the Lord’s Supper Should Be Eaten

¹⁷ While writing about these things, let me tell you what I think. Nothing good is coming from your meeting together. ¹⁸ First of all, I hear that when you meet together in the church you are divided into groups and you argue. I almost believe this is true. ¹⁹ For there must be different groups among you. In that way, those who are right will be seen from those who are wrong. ²⁰ When you gather together for your meetings, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper. ²¹ Each one is in a hurry to eat his own food first. He does not wait for others. In this way, one does not get enough food and drink. Others get too much and get drunk. ²² You have your own homes to eat and drink in. Or do you hate the church of God and shame those who are poor? What am I to say to you? Am I to say you are right? No! I cannot say you are right in this.

²⁷ Anyone who eats the bread or drinks from the cup, if his spirit is not right with the Lord, will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ This is why a man should look into his own heart and life before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. ²⁹ Anyone who eats the bread and drinks from the cup, if his spirit is not right with the Lord, will be guilty as he eats and drinks. He does not understand the meaning of the Lord’s body. ³⁰ This is why some of you are sick and weak, and some have died. ³¹ But if we would look into our own lives and see if we are guilty, then God would not have to say we are guilty. ³² When we are guilty, we are punished by the Lord so we will not be told we are guilty with the rest of the world.

³³ Christian brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other.