Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 150^[a]

Harmonious Praise of God

¹ Alleluia.

³² David Accepts the Challenge. David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of him. Your servant will go out and fight with this Philistine.” ³³ Saul said to David, “You cannot go out against the Philistine and fight with him. You are only a boy, and he has been a warrior since he was young.” ³⁴ David said to Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear would come and carry a lamb away from the flock, ³⁵ I would chase after it and strike it and rescue it from out of its mouth. When it would rise up against me, I would seize it by its fur and strike and kill it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed lion and bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them because he has defied the army of the living God.” ³⁷ David continued, “The Lord who has delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me out of the hands of this Philistine.” Saul then said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”

³⁸ David Prepares for the Encounter. Saul dressed David in his own armor. He put a bronze helmet on his head and covered him with a coat of mail. ³⁹ David fastened his sword over his armor, and he tried to walk around in it, but he was not used to it. David said to Saul, “No! I cannot walk in these, because I am not used to them.” David then took them off.

⁴⁰ He took his staff in his hand, and he chose five smooth stones from out of the stream. He put them in a pouch in his shepherd’s bag, and with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.

⁴¹ David’s Victory. Meanwhile, the Philistine drew nearer to David, his shield-bearer preceding him. ⁴² The Philistine looked David over, and he held him in contempt, for he was only a youth, ruddy, and handsome. ⁴³ The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come out to me with sticks?” The Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ The Philistine said to David, “Come over to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.” ⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You are coming against me with sword, spear, and javelin. I am coming against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ The Lord will deliver you into my hands today. I will strike you down and take off your head. Today I will give the bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. Thus, everyone on the earth will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All of those who are gathered in assembly here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you over into our hands.”

⁴⁸ When the Philistine got up and approached David, David ran quickly to meet the Philistine in battle. ⁴⁹ David reached into his bag and pulled out a stone. He launched it with the sling and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sunk into his forehead, and he fell face first to the earth.

⁵⁰ David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone. David struck down the Philistine and killed him, even without carrying a sword in his hand. ⁵¹ David ran over to the Philistine and stood over him. He took hold of his sword and drew it out from the sheath. He killed the Philistine and cut off his head with it.

The Philistines Flee. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

³⁶ Jesus Appears to the Disciples in Jerusalem.^[a] While they were still conversing about this, Jesus himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷ Startled and terrified, they thought that they were seeing a ghost.

³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why are doubts arising in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself. Touch me and see. For a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.