Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 13

A Plea for Deliverance

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

⁵ Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord’s temple before the new courtyard. ⁶ He said:

Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven,^(A) and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations?^(B) Power and might are in your hand, and no one can stand against you. ⁷ Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel^(C) and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham^(D) your friend? ⁸ They have lived in the land and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name and have said, ⁹ “If disaster comes on us—sword or judgment, pestilence or famine^(E)—we will stand before this temple and before you, for your name is in this temple.^(F) We will cry out to you because of our distress, and you will hear and deliver.”

¹⁰ Now here are the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir.^(G) You did not let Israel invade them when Israel came out of the land of Egypt, but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.^{(H) 11} Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you gave us as an inheritance. ¹² Our God, will you not judge them?^(I) For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.^[a](J)

⁷ You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth?^{(A) 8} This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.^{(B) 9} A little leaven^[a] leavens the whole batch of dough. ¹⁰ I myself am persuaded in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.^{(C) 11} Now brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross^(D) has been abolished. ¹² I wish those who are disturbing you might also let themselves be mutilated!