Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 14[a]
For the music director, by David.
14 Fools say to themselves,[b] “There is no God.”[c]
They sin and commit evil deeds;[d]
none of them does what is right.[e]
2 The Lord looks down from heaven[f] at the human race,[g]
to see if there is anyone who is wise[h] and seeks God.[i]
3 Everyone rejects God;[j]
they are all morally corrupt.[k]
None of them does what is right,[l]
not even one.
4 All those who behave wickedly[m] do not understand—[n]
those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,
and do not call out to the Lord.
5 They are absolutely terrified,[o]
for God defends the godly.[p]
6 You want to humiliate the oppressed,[q]
even though[r] the Lord is their[s] shelter.
7 I wish the deliverance[t] of Israel would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the well-being of his people,[u]
may Jacob rejoice,[v]
may Israel be happy![w]
6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them,[a] they[b] sent and hired 20,000 foot soldiers from Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah,[c] in addition to 1,000 men from the king of Maacah and 12,000 men from Ish Tob.[d]
7 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them.[e] 8 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the men from Aram Zobah, Rehob, Ish Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans.[f] 10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army[g] and they were deployed[h] against the Ammonites. 11 Joab[i] said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me,[j] you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you,[k] I will come to your rescue. 12 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!”[l]
Exhortation to Unity and Love
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy,[a] kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving[b] one another, if someone happens to have[c] a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.[d] 14 And to all these[e] virtues[f] add[g] love, which is the perfect bond.[h] 15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body[i] to this peace), and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ[j] dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace[k] in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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