Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
35 1 So long as Saul was enemy to David, all that had any authority under him, to flatter their king (as is the course of the world) did also most cruelly persecute David: against whom he prayeth God to plead and to avenge his cause, 8 that they may be taken in their nets and snares, which they laid for him, that his innocency may be declared, 27 and that the innocent, which taketh part with him, may rejoice and praise the Name of the Lord, that thus delivereth his servant. 28 And so he promiseth to speak forth the justice of the Lord, and to magnify his Name all the days of his life.
A Psalm of David.
1 Plead thou my [a]cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight thou against them that fight against me.
2 [b]Lay hand upon the shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
3 Bring out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me, say unto my [c]soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seek after my soul: let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, that imagine mine hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord [d]scatter them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.
7 For [e]without cause they have hid the pit and their net for me: without cause have they dug a pit for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon [f]him at unawares, and let his net, that he hath laid privily, take him: let him fall into [g]the same destruction.
9 Then my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my [h]bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him, that is too strong for him! yea, the poor and him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him!
22 5 King Balak sendeth for Balaam to curse the Israelites. 12 The Lord forbiddeth him to go. 22 The Angel of the Lord meeteth him, and his ass speaketh. 38 Balaam protesteth that he will speak nothing, but that which the Lord putteth in his mouth.
1 After, the children of Israel departed and pitched in the plain of Moab on the [a]other side of Jordan from Jericho.
2 ¶ Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 And the Moabites were sore afraid of the people, because they were many, and Moab [b]fretted against the children of Israel.
4 Therefore Moab said unto the [c]Elders of Midian, Now shall this multitude lick up all that are round about us, as an ox licketh up the grass of the field: and Balak the son of Zippor was King of the Moabites at that time.
5 (A)He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor (which is by the [d]river of the land of the children of his folk) to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which cover the face of the earth, and lie over against me.
6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, and curse me this people (for they are stronger than I) so it may be that I shall be able to smite them, and to drive them out of the land: for I know that he, whom thou blessest, is blessed, and he whom thou cursest, shall be cursed.
7 And the Elders of Moab, and the Elders of Midian departed, having [e]the reward of the soothsaying in their hand, and they came unto Balaam, and told him the words of Balak.
8 Who answered them, Tarry here this night, and I will give you an answer, as the Lord shall say unto me. So [f]the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9 Then God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10 And Baalam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab hath sent unto me, saying,
11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, and covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse them for my sake: so it may be that I shall be able to overcome them in battle, and to drive them out.
12 And God [g]said unto Balaam, Go not thou with them, neither curse the people, for they are blessed.
13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Return unto your land: for the Lord hath refused to give [h]me leave to go with you.
14 So the princes of Moab rose up, and went unto Balak, and said, Balaam hath refused to come with us.
15 Balak yet sent again more princes, and more honorable than they,
16 Who came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, [i]Be not thou stayed, I pray thee, from coming unto me.
17 For I will promote thee unto great honor, and will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18 And Balaam answered, and said unto the servants of Balak, (B)If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
19 But now, I pray you, tarry here this night, that I may wit, what the Lord will say unto me [j]more.
20 And God came unto Balaam by night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them: but only what thing I say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21 So Balaam rose up early, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18 And the next day Paul went in with us unto James: and all the Elders were there assembled.
19 [a]And when he had embraced them, he told by order all things, that God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministration.
20 [b]So when they heard it, they glorified God, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousand Jews there are which believe, and they are all zealous of the Law:
21 Now they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews, which are among the Gentiles, to forsake Moses, and sayest that they ought not to circumcise their sons, neither to live after the customs.
22 What is then to be done? the multitude must needs come together: for they shall hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee. We have four men, which have made a vow,
24 Them take, and [c]purify thyself with them, and [d]contribute with them, that they may (A)shave their heads: and all shall know, that those things, whereof they have been informed concerning thee, are nothing, but that thou thyself also walkest and keepest the Law.
25 For as touching the Gentiles, which believe, we have written, and determined that they observe no such thing, but that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from that that is strangled, and from fornication.
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day was purified with them, and entered into the Temple, [e]declaring the accomplishment of the days of the purification, until that an offering should be offered for everyone of them.
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