Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
52 1 David describeth the arrogant tyranny of his adversary Doeg: who by false surmises cause Ahimelech with the rest of the Priests to be slain. 5 David prophesieth his destruction, 6 and encourageth the faithful to put their confidence in God, whose judgments are most sharp against his adversaries. 9 And finally, he rendereth thanks to God for his deliverance. In this Psalm is timely set forth the kingdom of Antichrist.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David to give instruction. When Doeg the Edomite came and showed Saul, and said to him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.
1 Why boastest thou thyself in thy wickedness, O [a]man of power? the loving-kindness of God endureth daily.
2 Thy tongue imagineth [b]mischief, and is like a sharp razor, that cutteth deceitfully.
3 Thou dost love evil more than good, and lies more than to speak the [c]truth. Selah.
4 Thou lovest all words that may destroy: O deceitful tongue!
5 So shall God [d]destroy thee forever: he shall take thee and pluck thee out of thy tabernacle, and [e]root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
6 The [f]righteous also shall see it, [g]and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,
7 Behold the man that took not God for his strength, but trusteth unto the multitude of his riches, and put his strength [h]in his malice.
8 But I shall be like a [i]green olive tree in the house of God: for I trusted in the mercy of God forever and ever.
9 I will always praise thee, for that thou hast done [j]this, and I will [k]hope in thy name, because it is good before thy Saints.
6 Against the princes of Israel living in pleasure.
1 Woe to [a]them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, [b]which were famous at the beginning of the nations: and the house of Israel came to them.
2 Go you unto Calneh, and see: and from thence go you to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be [c]they better than these kingdoms? or the border of their land greater than your border,
3 Ye that put far away the [d]evil day, and approach to the seat of iniquity?
4 They lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their beds, and eat the lambs of the flock, and the calves out of the stall.
5 They sing to the sound of the viol: they invent to themselves instruments of music like [e]David.
6 They drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments, but no man is [f]sorry for the affliction of Joseph.
7 Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and [g]the sorrow of them that stretched themselves, is at hand.
8 [h]The Lord God hath sworn by himself, saith the Lord God of hosts, I abhor [i]the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
9 And if there remain ten men in one house, they shall die.
10 And his uncle [j]shall take him up and burn him, to carry out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him, that is by the [k]sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? And he shall say, None. Then shall he say, [l]Hold thy tongue: for we may not remember the Name of the Lord.
11 For behold, the Lord commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
12 Shall horses [m]run upon the rock? or will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into [n]wormwood.
13 Yet rejoice in a thing of nought: ye say, Have not we gotten us [o]horns by our own strength?
14 But behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the Lord God of hosts: and they shall afflict you from the entering in of [p]Hamath unto the river of the wilderness.
4 (A)[a]Now when much people were gathered together, and were come unto him out of all cities, he spake by a parable.
5 A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden under feet, and the fowls of heaven devoured it up.
6 And some fell on the stones, and when it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moistness.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And some fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit, an hundredfold. And as he said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 Then his disciples asked him, demanding what parable that was.
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the [b]secrets of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables, that when (B)they see, they should not see, and when they hear, they should not understand.
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