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 And the wrath of God was kindled, because he [a]went: and the Angel of the Lord stood in the way to be against him, as he rode upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 And (A)when the ass saw the Angel of the Lord stand in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, the ass turned out of the way, and went into the field, but Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way.
24 [b]Again the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, having a wall on the one side, and a wall on the other.
25 And when the ass saw the Angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and dashed Balaam’s foot against the wall: wherefore he smote her again.
26 Then the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn, either to the right hand, or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the Angel of the Lord, she [c]lay down under Balaam: therefore Balaam was very wroth, and smote the ass with a staff.
28 Then the Lord [d]opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me now three times?
32 And I would have you without care. The unmarried careth for things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.
33 But he that is married, [a]careth for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a virgin and a wife: the unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy, both in body and in [b]spirit: but she that is married, careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own [c]commodity, not to tangle you in a snare, but that ye follow that which is honest, and that ye may cleave fast unto the Lord without separation.
36 [d]But if any man think that it is uncomely for his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he [e]sinneth not: let them be married.
37 Nevertheless, he that standeth firm in his [f]heart, that he hath no [g]need, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart, that he will keep his virgin, he doeth well.
38 So then he that giveth her to marriage, doeth well, but he that giveth her not to marriage, doeth [h]better.
39 [i]The wife is bound by the [j]law, as long as her husband (A)liveth: but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to marry with whom she will, only in the [k]Lord.
40 But she is more blessed, if she so abide in my judgment: (B)and I think that I have also the Spirit of God.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.