Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Longing for the Temple Worship.

For the music director; ^[a]on the Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

Alliance with King Hiram

5 ^[a](A)Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for ^(B)Hiram had ^[b]always been a friend of David. ² Then ^(C)Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying, ³ “You know that ^(D)David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. ⁴ But now ^(E)the Lord my God has secured me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor ^[c]misfortune. ⁵ So behold, ^(F)I ^[d]intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, just as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’ ⁶ Now then, issue orders that they cut ^(G)cedars from Lebanon for me, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants in accordance with all that you say, for you yourself know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

⁷ When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he greatly rejoiced; and he said, “Blessed be the Lord today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.” ⁸ So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you sent me; I will do everything you wish concerning the cedar and juniper timber. ⁹ My servants will bring the timbers down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will have them made into rafts to go by sea ^(H)to the place where you ^[e]direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you will carry them away. Then ^(I)you shall do what I wish, by giving food to my household.” ¹⁰ So ^[f]Hiram ^[g]gave Solomon all that he wished of the cedar and juniper timber. ^11 (J)Solomon then gave ^[h]Hiram ^[i]twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and ^[j]twenty kors of pure oil; this is what Solomon would give Hiram year by year. ¹² And ^(K)the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He ^[k]promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.

⁵ And He said to them, “^[a]Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ because a friend of mine has come to me from a journey and I have nothing to serve him’; ⁷ and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children ^[b]and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even if he will not get up and give him anything just because he is his friend, yet ^(A)because of his ^[c]shamelessness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

⁹ “So I say to you, ^[d](B)ask, and it will be given to you; ^[e]seek, and you will find; ^[f]knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened. ¹¹ Now ^[g]which one of you fathers will his son ask for a ^[h]fish, and instead of a fish, he will give him a snake? ¹² Or he will even ask for an egg, and his father will give him a scorpion? ¹³ So ^(C)if you, despite being ^[i]evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will ^[j]your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”