The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday May 23, 2018 (NIV)

2 Samuel 2:12-3:39

War between Israel and Judah

12 One day Abner led Ishbosheth’s troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool.

14 Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.”

“All right,” Joab agreed. 15 So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. 16 Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.[a]

17 A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.

The Death of Asahel

18 Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, 19 and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything. 20 When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?”

“Yes, it is,” he replied.

21 “Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner.

22 Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?”

23 But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there.

24 When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 Abner’s troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand.

26 Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?”

27 Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.” 28 So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel.

29 All that night Abner and his men retreated through the Jordan Valley.[b] They crossed the Jordan River, traveling all through the morning,[c] and didn’t stop until they arrived at Mahanaim.

30 Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only 19 men were missing in addition to Asahel. 31 But 360 of Abner’s men had been killed, all from the tribe of Benjamin. 32 Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.

David’s Sons Born in Hebron

These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron:

The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.
The second was Daniel,[d] whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.
The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.
The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith.
The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife.

These sons were all born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins Forces with David

As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul. One day Ishbosheth,[e] Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.

Abner was furious. “Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward—that you find fault with me about this woman? May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the Lord has promised him! 10 I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.” 11 Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.”

13 “All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”

14 David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son: “Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives[f] of 100 Philistines.”

15 So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Palti[g] son of Laish. 16 Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned.

17 Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now is the time! For the Lord has said, ‘I have chosen David to save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin had agreed to support him.

20 When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.” So David sent Abner safely on his way.

Joab Murders Abner

22 But just after David had sent Abner away in safety, Joab and some of David’s troops returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them. 23 When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety.

24 Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away? 25 You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!”

26 Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner, asking him to return. They found him at the well of Sirah and brought him back, though David knew nothing about it. 27 When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.

28 When David heard about it, he declared, “I vow by the Lord that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner. 29 Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy[h] or who walks on crutches[i] or dies by the sword or begs for food!”

30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon.

David Mourns Abner’s Death

31 Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. 33 Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as fools die?
34 Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not chained.
No, you were murdered—
the victim of a wicked plot.”

All the people wept again for Abner. 35 David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.”

36 This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! 37 So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.

38 Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel? 39 And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the Lord repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”

Footnotes:

  1. 2:16 Hebrew Helkath-hazzurim.
  2. 2:29a Hebrew the Arabah.
  3. 2:29b Or continued on through the Bithron. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  4. 3:3 As in parallel text at 1 Chr 3:1 (see also Greek version, which reads Daluia, and possible support by Dead Sea Scrolls); Hebrew reads Kileab.
  5. 3:7 Ishbosheth is another name for Esh-baal.
  6. 3:14 Hebrew the foreskins.
  7. 3:15 As in 1 Sam 25:44; Hebrew reads Paltiel, a variant spelling of Palti.
  8. 3:29a Or or a contagious skin disease. The Hebrew word used here can describe various skin diseases.
  9. 3:29b Or who is effeminate; Hebrew reads who handles a spindle.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


John 13:1-30

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.[a] It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[b] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet,[c] to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’[d] 19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah.[e] 20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled,[f] and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. 23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table.[g] 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” 25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night.

Footnotes:

  1. 13:1 Or he showed them the full extent of his love.
  2. 13:2 Or the devil had already intended for Judas.
  3. 13:10 Some manuscripts do not include except for the feet.
  4. 13:18 Ps 41:9.
  5. 13:19 Or that the ‘I am’ has come; or that I am the Lord; Greek reads that I am. See Exod 3:14.
  6. 13:21 Greek was troubled in his spirit.
  7. 13:23 Greek was reclining on Jesus’ bosom. The “disciple Jesus loved” was probably John.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 119:1-16

Psalm 119[a]

Aleph

Joyful are people of integrity,
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us
to keep your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees!
Then I will not be ashamed
when I compare my life with your commands.
As I learn your righteous regulations,
I will thank you by living as I should!
I will obey your decrees.
Please don’t give up on me!

Beth

How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
10 I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12 I praise you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us.
14 I have rejoiced in your laws
as much as in riches.
15 I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways.
16 I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word.

Footnotes:

  1. 119 This psalm is a Hebrew acrostic poem; there are twenty-two stanzas, one for each successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight verses within each stanza begins with the Hebrew letter named in its heading.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 15:29-30

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of the righteous.

30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;
good news makes for good health.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday May 22, 2018 (NIV)

2 Samuel 1:1-2:11

David Learns of Saul’s Death

After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.

“Where have you come from?” David asked.

“I escaped from the Israelite camp,” the man replied.

“What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.”

The man replied, “Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

“How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David demanded of the young man.

The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him. When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. ‘How can I help?’ I asked him.

“He responded, ‘Who are you?’

“‘I am an Amalekite,’ I told him.

“Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’

10 “So I killed him,” the Amalekite told David, “for I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”

11 David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. 12 They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.

13 Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, “Where are you from?”

And he replied, “I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land.”

14 “Why were you not afraid to kill the Lord’s anointed one?” David asked.

15 Then David said to one of his men, “Kill him!” So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him. 16 “You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the Lord’s anointed one.”

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

17 Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 18 and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar.[a]

19 Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills!
Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
20 Don’t announce the news in Gath,
don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice
and the pagans will laugh in triumph.

21 O mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain.[b]
For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled;
the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.
22 The bow of Jonathan was powerful,
and the sword of Saul did its mighty work.
They shed the blood of their enemies
and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.

23 How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan!
They were together in life and in death.
They were swifter than eagles,
stronger than lions.
24 O women of Israel, weep for Saul,
for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing,
in garments decorated with gold.

25 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies dead on the hills.
26 How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!
Oh, how much I loved you!
And your love for me was deep,
deeper than the love of women!

27 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.

David Anointed King of Judah

After this, David asked the Lord, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?”

“Yes,” the Lord replied.

Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?”

“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. So David and his wives and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron. Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah.

When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul, he sent them this message: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. May the Lord be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”

Ishbosheth Proclaimed King of Israel

But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth.[c] There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.

10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David. 11 David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years.

Footnotes:

  1. 1:18 Or The Book of the Upright.
  2. 1:21 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  3. 2:8 Ishbosheth is another name for Esh-baal.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


John 12:20-50

Jesus Predicts His Death

20 Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21 paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man[a] to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture[b] that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

The Unbelief of the People

37 But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. 38 This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

Lord, who has believed our message?
To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”[c]

39 But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,

40 “The Lord has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts—
so that their eyes cannot see,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and have me heal them.”[d]

41 Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. 42 Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47 I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49 I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

Footnotes:

  1. 12:23 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
  2. 12:34 Greek from the law.
  3. 12:38 Isa 53:1.
  4. 12:40 Isa 6:10.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 118:19-29

19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
and I will go in and thank the Lord.
20 These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
and the godly enter there.
21 I thank you for answering my prayer
and giving me victory!

22 The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
24 This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please, Lord, please save us.
Please, Lord, please give us success.
26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, shining upon us.
Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 15:27-28

27 Greed brings grief to the whole family,
but those who hate bribes will live.

28 The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking;
the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday May 21, 2018 (NIV)

1 Samuel 29-31

The Philistines Reject David

29 The entire Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelites camped at the spring in Jezreel. As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops in groups of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched at the rear with King Achish. But the Philistine commanders demanded, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”

And Achish told them, “This is David, the servant of King Saul of Israel. He’s been with me for years, and I’ve never found a single fault in him from the day he arrived until today.”

But the Philistine commanders were angry. “Send him back to the town you’ve given him!” they demanded. “He can’t go into the battle with us. What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary? Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by handing our heads over to him? Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances,

‘Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’?”

So Achish finally summoned David and said to him, “I swear by the Lord that you have been a trustworthy ally. I think you should go with me into battle, for I’ve never found a single flaw in you from the day you arrived until today. But the other Philistine rulers won’t hear of it. Please don’t upset them, but go back quietly.”

“What have I done to deserve this treatment?” David demanded. “What have you ever found in your servant, that I can’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?”

But Achish insisted, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re as perfect as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle. 10 Now get up early in the morning, and leave with your men as soon as it gets light.”

11 So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines, while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.

David Destroys the Amalekites

30 Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.

When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more. David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?”

And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”

So David and his 600 men set out, and they came to the brook Besor. 10 But 200 of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with 400 men.

11 Along the way they found an Egyptian man in a field and brought him to David. They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink. 12 They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, for he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for three days and nights. Before long his strength returned.

13 “To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?” David asked him.

“I am an Egyptian—the slave of an Amalekite,” he replied. “My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick. 14 We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag.”

15 “Will you lead me to this band of raiders?” David asked.

The young man replied, “If you take an oath in God’s name that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them.”

16 So he led David to them, and they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah. 17 David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night and the entire next day until evening. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels. 18 David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back. 20 He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. “This plunder belongs to David!” they said.

21 Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully. 22 But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.”

23 But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. 24 Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” 25 From then on David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, and it is still followed today.

26 When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.

27 The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited: Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir, 28 Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, 29 Racal,[a] the towns of the Jerahmeelites, the towns of the Kenites, 30 Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach, 31 Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited.

The Death of Saul

31 Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua. The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely.

Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.”

But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died beside the king. So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day.

When the Israelites on the other side of the Jezreel Valley and beyond the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.

The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons on Mount Gilboa. So they cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his armor. Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul’s death in their pagan temple and to the people throughout the land of Philistia. 10 They placed his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of the city of Beth-shan.

11 But when the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their mighty warriors traveled through the night to Beth-shan and took the bodies of Saul and his sons down from the wall. They brought them to Jabesh, where they burned the bodies. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them beneath the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted for seven days.

Footnotes:

  1. 30:29 Greek version reads Carmel.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


John 11:55-12:19

55 It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around in the Temple, they said to each other, “What do you think? He won’t come for Passover, will he?” 57 Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate[a] with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar[b] of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages.[c] It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

When all the people[d] heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them[e] and believed in Jesus.

Jesus’ Triumphant Entry

12 The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,

“Praise God![f]
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”[g]

14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:

15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.[h]
Look, your King is coming,
riding on a donkey’s colt.”[i]

16 His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

17 Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others[j] about it. 18 That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone[k] has gone after him!”

Footnotes:

  1. 12:2 Or who reclined.
  2. 12:3 Greek took 1 litra [327 grams].
  3. 12:5 Greek worth 300 denarii. A denarius was equivalent to a laborer’s full day’s wage.
  4. 12:9 Greek Jewish people; also in 12:11.
  5. 12:11 Or had deserted their traditions; Greek reads had deserted.
  6. 12:13a Greek Hosanna, an exclamation of praise adapted from a Hebrew expression that means “save now.”
  7. 12:13b Ps 118:25-26; Zeph 3:15.
  8. 12:15a Greek daughter of Zion.
  9. 12:15b Zech 9:9.
  10. 12:17 Greek were testifying.
  11. 12:19 Greek the world.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 118:1-18

Psalm 118

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

Let all Israel repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Let all who fear the Lord repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”

In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
and the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.

10 Though hostile nations surrounded me,
I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
11 Yes, they surrounded and attacked me,
but I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
12 They swarmed around me like bees;
they blazed against me like a crackling fire.
But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
13 My enemies did their best to kill me,
but the Lord rescued me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.
15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
16 The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
17 I will not die; instead, I will live
to tell what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not let me die.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 15:24-26

24 The path of life leads upward for the wise;
they leave the grave[a] behind.

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
but he protects the property of widows.

26 The Lord detests evil plans,
but he delights in pure words.

Footnotes:

  1. 15:24 Hebrew Sheol.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday May 20, 2018 (NIV)

1 Samuel 26-28

David Spares Saul Again

26 Now some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah to tell him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon.”

So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s elite troops and went to hunt him down in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul camped along the road beside the hill of Hakilah, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. When David learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, he sent out spies to verify the report of Saul’s arrival.

David slipped over to Saul’s camp one night to look around. Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were sleeping inside a ring formed by the slumbering warriors. “Who will volunteer to go in there with me?” David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother.

“I’ll go with you,” Abishai replied. So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him.

“God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!”

“No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? 10 Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. 11 The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”

12 So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep.

13 David climbed the hill opposite the camp until he was at a safe distance. 14 Then he shouted down to the soldiers and to Abner son of Ner, “Wake up, Abner!”

“Who is it?” Abner demanded.

15 “Well, Abner, you’re a great man, aren’t you?” David taunted. “Where in all Israel is there anyone as mighty? So why haven’t you guarded your master the king when someone came to kill him? 16 This isn’t good at all! I swear by the Lord that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the Lord’s anointed! Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?”

17 Saul recognized David’s voice and called out, “Is that you, my son David?”

And David replied, “Yes, my lord the king. 18 Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime? 19 But now let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the Lord. For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the Lord’s people, and they have said, ‘Go, worship pagan gods.’ 20 Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?”

21 Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.”

22 “Here is your spear, O king,” David replied. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one. 24 Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.”

25 And Saul said to David, “Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.” Then David went away, and Saul returned home.

David among the Philistines

27 But David kept thinking to himself, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.”

So David took his 600 men and went over and joined Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. David and his men and their families settled there with Achish at Gath. David brought his two wives along with him—Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow from Carmel. Word soon reached Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped hunting for him.

One day David said to Achish, “If it is all right with you, we would rather live in one of the country towns instead of here in the royal city.”

So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag (which still belongs to the kings of Judah to this day), and they lived there among the Philistines for a year and four months.

David and his men spent their time raiding the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites—people who had lived near Shur, toward the land of Egypt, since ancient times. David did not leave one person alive in the villages he attacked. He took the sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing before returning home to see King Achish.

10 “Where did you make your raid today?” Achish would ask.

And David would reply, “Against the south of Judah, the Jerahmeelites, and the Kenites.”

11 No one was left alive to come to Gath and tell where he had really been. This happened again and again while he was living among the Philistines. 12 Achish believed David and thought to himself, “By now the people of Israel must hate him bitterly. Now he will have to stay here and serve me forever!”

Saul Consults a Medium

28 About that time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.”

“Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.”

Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.”

Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead.

The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots[a] or by the prophets. Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.”

His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.”

So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men.

“I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?”

“Are you trying to get me killed?” the woman demanded. “You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all who consult the spirits of the dead. Why are you setting a trap for me?”

10 But Saul took an oath in the name of the Lord and promised, “As surely as the Lord lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this.”

11 Finally, the woman said, “Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?”

“Call up Samuel,” Saul replied.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, “You’ve deceived me! You are Saul!”

13 “Don’t be afraid!” the king told her. “What do you see?”

“I see a god[b] coming up out of the earth,” she said.

14 “What does he look like?” Saul asked.

“He is an old man wrapped in a robe,” she replied. Saul realized it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him.

15 “Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?” Samuel asked Saul.

“Because I am in deep trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are at war with me, and God has left me and won’t reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do.”

16 But Samuel replied, “Why ask me, since the Lord has left you and has become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. 18 The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites. 19 What’s more, the Lord will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The Lord will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.”

20 Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.

21 When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life. 22 Now do what I say, and let me give you a little something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back.”

23 But Saul refused to eat anything. Then his advisers joined the woman in urging him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

24 The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She took some flour, kneaded it into dough and baked unleavened bread. 25 She brought the meal to Saul and his advisers, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night.

Footnotes:

  1. 28:6 Hebrew by Urim.
  2. 28:13 Or gods.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


John 11:1-54

The Raising of Lazarus

11 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair.[a] Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”

But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days. Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people[b] in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”

Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” 11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin,[c] said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”

17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles[d] down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[e] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him.

30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him,[f] and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.

They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”

38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.

But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

45 Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 46 But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council[g] together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple[h] and our nation.”

49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time,[i] said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”

51 He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.

53 So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. 54 As a result, Jesus stopped his public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples.

Footnotes:

  1. 11:2 This incident is recorded in chapter 12.
  2. 11:8 Greek Jewish people; also in 11:19, 31, 33, 36, 45, 54.
  3. 11:16 Greek Thomas, who was called Didymus.
  4. 11:18 Greek was about 15 stadia [about 2.8 kilometers].
  5. 11:25 Some manuscripts do not include and the life.
  6. 11:33 Or he was angry in his spirit.
  7. 11:47 Greek the Sanhedrin.
  8. 11:48 Or our position; Greek reads our place.
  9. 11:49 Greek that year; also in 11:51.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 117

Psalm 117

Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Praise him, all you people of the earth.
For his unfailing love for us is powerful;
the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever.

Praise the Lord!

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 15:22-23

22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
many advisers bring success.

23 Everyone enjoys a fitting reply;
it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday May 19, 2018 (NIV)

1 Samuel 24-25

David Spares Saul

24 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines,(A) he was told, “David is in the wilderness near En-gedi.”(B) So Saul took three thousand of Israel’s fit young men(C) and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself.[a](D) David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave,(E) so they said to him, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.’” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.

Afterward, David’s conscience bothered[b](F) him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.[c] He said to his men, “I swear before the Lord: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed.(G) I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”(H) With these words David persuaded[d] his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.

Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.(I) David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? 10 You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave.(J) Someone advised me to kill you,(K) but I[e][f] took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. 11 Look, my father!(L) Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Recognize[g] that I’ve committed no crime or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.(M)

12 “May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.(N) 13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’(O) My hand will never be against you. 14 Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?(P) 15 May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May he take notice and plead my case and deliver[h] me from you.”(Q)

16 When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, “Is that your voice, David my son?”(R) Then Saul wept aloud 17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.(S) 18 You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me.(T) 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed?[i](U) May the Lord repay you with good for what you’ve done for me today.

20 “Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established[j] in your hand.(V) 21 Therefore swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”(W) 22 So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.(X)

David, Nabal, and Abigail

25 Samuel died,(Y) and all Israel assembled to mourn for him,(Z) and they buried him by his home in Ramah.(AA) David then went down to the Wilderness of Paran.[k](AB)

A man in Maon(AC) had a business in Carmel;(AD) he was a very rich man with three thousand sheep and one thousand goats and was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name, Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful, but the man, a Calebite,(AE) was harsh and evil in his dealings.

While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep, so David sent ten young men instructing them, “Go up to Carmel, and when you come to Nabal, greet him[l] in my name. Then say this: ‘Long life to you,[m] and peace to you, peace to your family, and peace to all that is yours.(AF) I hear that you are shearing.[n] When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.(AG) Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on a feast[o] day.(AH) Please give whatever you have on hand to your servants and to your son David.’”

David’s young men went and said all these things to Nabal on David’s behalf,[p] and they waited.[q] 10 Nabal asked them, “Who is David?(AI) Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters. 11 Am I supposed to take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don’t know where they are from.”

12 David’s young men retraced their steps. When they returned to him, they reported all these words. 13 He said to his men, “All of you, put on your swords!” So each man put on his sword, and David also put on his sword. About four hundred men followed David while two hundred stayed with the supplies.(AJ)

14 One of Nabal’s young men informed Abigail, Nabal’s wife: “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master,(AK) but he screamed at them. 15 The men treated us very well. When we were in the field, we weren’t harassed(AL) and nothing of ours was missing the whole time we were living among them. 16 They were a wall around us, both day and night,(AM) the entire time we were with them herding the sheep. 17 Now consider carefully[r] what you should do, because there is certain to be trouble for our master and his entire family. He is such a worthless fool nobody can talk to him!”

18 Abigail hurried, taking two hundred loaves of bread, two clay jars of wine, five butchered sheep, a bushel[s] of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.(AN) 19 Then she said to her male servants, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.”(AO) But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

20 As she rode the donkey down a mountain pass hidden from view, she saw David and his men coming toward her and met them. 21 David had just said, “I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the wilderness for nothing. He was not missing anything, yet he paid me back evil for good. 22 May God punish me[t] and do so severely(AP) if I let any of his males[u] survive until morning.”(AQ)

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey and knelt down with her face to the ground and paid homage to David.(AR) 24 She knelt at his feet and said, “The guilt is mine, my lord, but please let your servant speak to you directly. Listen to the words of your servant. 25 My lord should pay no attention to this worthless fool Nabal, for he lives up to his name:[v] His name means ‘stupid,’ and stupidity is all he knows.[w] I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent. 26 Now my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live— it is the Lord who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself(AS) by your own hand—may your enemies and those who intend to harm my lord be like Nabal.(AT) 27 Let this gift(AU) your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive your servant’s offense,(AV) for the Lord is certain to make a lasting dynasty for my lord(AW) because he fights the Lord’s battles.(AX) Throughout your life, may evil[x] not be found in you.(AY)

29 “Someone is pursuing you and intends to take your life. My lord’s life is tucked safely in the place[y] where the Lord your God protects the living, but he is flinging away your enemies’ lives like stones from a sling.(AZ) 30 When the Lord does for my lord all the good he promised you and appoints you ruler over Israel,(BA) 31 there will not be remorse or a troubled conscience for my lord because of needless bloodshed or my lord’s revenge. And when the Lord does good things for my lord, may you remember me your servant.”(BB)

32 Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,(BC) who sent you to meet me today! 33 May your discernment be blessed, and may you be blessed. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.(BD) 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any males[z] left by morning light.” 35 Then David accepted what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace.(BE) See, I have heard what you said and have granted your request.”(BF)

36 Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king.(BG) Nabal’s heart was cheerful,[aa] and he was very drunk, so she didn’t say anything[ab] to him(BH) until morning light.

37 In the morning when Nabal sobered up,[ac] his wife told him about these events. His heart died[ad] and he became a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.(BI)

39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord who championed my cause against Nabal’s insults(BJ) and restrained his servant from doing evil.(BK) The Lord brought Nabal’s evil deeds back on his own head.”(BL)

Then David sent messengers to speak to Abigail about marrying him. 40 When David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, “David sent us to bring you to him as a wife.”

41 She stood up, paid homage with her face to the ground,(BM) and said, “Here I am, your servant, a slave to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”(BN) 42 Then Abigail got up quickly, and with her five female servants accompanying her, rode on the donkey following David’s messengers.(BO) And so she became his wife.

43 David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel,(BP) and the two of them became his wives. 44 But Saul gave his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti(BQ) son of Laish, who was from Gallim.(BR)

Footnotes:

  1. 24:3 Lit to cover his feet
  2. 24:5 Lit David’s heart struck
  3. 24:5 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss omit robe
  4. 24:7 Or restrained
  5. 24:10 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads she or it
  6. 24:10 Or my eye
  7. 24:11 Lit Know and see
  8. 24:15 Lit render a verdict for
  9. 24:19 Lit go on a good way
  10. 24:20 Or will flourish
  11. 25:1 LXX reads to Maon
  12. 25:5 Or Nabal, ask him for peace
  13. 25:6 Lit ‘To life
  14. 25:7 Lit you have shearers
  15. 25:8 Lit good
  16. 25:9 Lit name
  17. 25:9 LXX reads and he became arrogant
  18. 25:17 Lit Now know and see
  19. 25:18 Lit sheep, five seahs
  20. 25:22 LXX; MT reads David’s enemies
  21. 25:22 Lit of those of his who are urinating against the wall
  22. 25:25 Lit for as is his name is, so he is
  23. 25:25 Lit and foolishness is with him
  24. 25:28 Or trouble
  25. 25:29 Lit bundle
  26. 25:34 Lit had anyone urinating against a wall
  27. 25:36 Lit Nabal’s heart was good on him
  28. 25:36 Lit anything at all
  29. 25:37 Lit when the wine had gone out of Nabal
  30. 25:37 Lit Then his heart died within him

Cross references:

  1. 24:1 : 1Sm 23:28-29
  2. 24:1 : 1Sm 23:19
  3. 24:2 : 1Sm 13:2; 26:2
  4. 24:3 : Jdg 3:24
  5. 24:3 : Pss 57, 142 titles
  6. 24:5 : 2Sm 24:10
  7. 24:6 : 1Sm 26:9-11
  8. 24:6 : 1Sm 10:1
  9. 24:8 : 1Sm 25:23-24; 1Kg 1:31
  10. 24:10 : Ps 7:3-4
  11. 24:10 : 1Sm 24:4
  12. 24:11 : 2Kg 5:13
  13. 24:11 : 1Sm 23:14,23; 26:20
  14. 24:12 : 1Sm 26:10-11,23
  15. 24:13 : Mt 7:16-20; Lk 6:43-45
  16. 24:14 : 1Sm 26:20; 2Sm 9:8
  17. 24:15 : Ps 35:1
  18. 24:16 : 1Sm 26:17
  19. 24:17 : 1Sm 26:21
  20. 24:18 : 1Sm 26:23
  21. 24:19 : 1Sm 23:17; Pr 16:29
  22. 24:20 : 1Sm 13:14; 16:1-13
  23. 24:21 : Gn 21:23; 1Sm 20:14-17; 2Sm 21:6-8
  24. 24:22 : 1Sm 23:29
  25. 25:1 : 1Sm 28:3
  26. 25:1 : Dt 34:8
  27. 25:1 : 2Kg 21:18; 2Ch 33:20
  28. 25:1 : Gn 21:21; Nm 10:12; 13:3
  29. 25:2 : 1Sm 23:24
  30. 25:2 : Jos 15:55
  31. 25:3 : Jos 15:13; 1Sm 30:14
  32. 25:6 : 1Ch 12:18
  33. 25:7 : 1Sm 23:24-25; 25:15-16
  34. 25:8 : Neh 8:10-12
  35. 25:10 : Jdg 9:28
  36. 25:13 : 1Sm 23:13; 30:9-10
  37. 25:14 : 1Sm 13:10; 15:13
  38. 25:15 : 1Sm 25:7,21
  39. 25:16 : Ex 14:22
  40. 25:18 : 2Sm 16:1; 1Ch 12:40
  41. 25:19 : Gn 32:16,20
  42. 25:22 : 1Sm 3:17; 20:13
  43. 25:22 : 1Kg 14:10
  44. 25:23 : 1Sm 20:41
  45. 25:26 : Heb 10:30
  46. 25:26 : 2Sm 18:32
  47. 25:27 : Gn 33:11; 1Sm 30:26
  48. 25:28 : 1Sm 25:24
  49. 25:28 : 1Sm 2:35; 22:14; 2Sm 7:11,16
  50. 25:28 : 1Sm 18:17
  51. 25:28 : 1Sm 24:11; Ps 7:3
  52. 25:29 : Jr 10:18
  53. 25:30 : 1Sm 13:14
  54. 25:31 : Gn 40:14; 1Sm 25:30
  55. 25:32 : Ex 18:10
  56. 25:33 : 1Sm 25:26
  57. 25:35 : 1Sm 20:42; 2Kg 5:19
  58. 25:35 : Gn 19:21
  59. 25:36 : 2Sm 13:23
  60. 25:36 : 1Sm 25:19
  61. 25:38 : 1Sm 26:10
  62. 25:39 : 1Sm 24:15
  63. 25:39 : 1Sm 25:26,34
  64. 25:39 : 2Sm 3:28-29
  65. 25:41 : 1Sm 25:23
  66. 25:41 : Mk 1:7
  67. 25:42 : Gn 24:61-67
  68. 25:43 : Jos 15:56
  69. 25:44 : 1Sm 18:27; 2Sm 3:14-15
  70. 25:44 : Is 10:30
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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John 10:22-42

Jesus at the Festival of Dedication

22 Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s Colonnade.(A) 24 The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense?[a] If you are the Messiah,(B) tell us plainly.”[b](C)

25 “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works(D) that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep.[c](E) 27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life,(F) and they will never perish.(G) No one will snatch(H) them out of my hand. 29 My Father,(I) who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”(J)

Renewed Efforts to Stone Jesus

31 Again the Jews picked up rocks to stone him.(K)

32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works(L) from the Father. For which of these works are you stoning me?”

33 “We aren’t stoning(M) you for a good work,” the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because you—being a man—make yourself God.”

34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law,[d] I said, you are gods?[e](N) 35 If he called those whom the word(O) of God came to ‘gods’—and the Scripture(P) cannot be broken— 36 do you say, ‘You are blaspheming’ to the one the Father set apart and sent into the world, because I said: I am the Son of God?(Q) 37 If I am not doing my Father’s works,(R) don’t believe me. 38 But if I am doing them and you don’t believe me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand[f] that the Father is in me and I in the Father.”(S) 39 Then they were trying again to seize him,(T) but he eluded their grasp.(U)

Many beyond the Jordan Believe in Jesus

40 So he departed again across the Jordan(V) to the place where John(W) had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. 41 Many came to him(X) and said, “John never did a sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

Footnotes:

  1. 10:24 Lit “How long are you taking away our life?
  2. 10:24 Or openly, or publicly
  3. 10:26 Other mss add just as I told you
  4. 10:34 Other mss read in the scripture
  5. 10:34 Ps 82:6
  6. 10:38 Other mss read know and believe
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 116

Psalm 116

Thanks to God for Deliverance

I love the Lord because he has heard
my appeal for mercy.(A)
Because he has turned his ear to me,
I will call out to him as long as I live.(B)

The ropes of death were wrapped around me,
and the torments of Sheol overcame me;
I encountered trouble and sorrow.(C)
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
Lord, save me!”(D)

The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is compassionate.(E)
The Lord guards the inexperienced;
I was helpless, and he saved me.(F)
Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.(G)
For you, Lord, rescued me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.(H)
I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.(I)
10 I believed, even when I said,
“I am severely oppressed.”(J)
11 In my alarm I said,
“Everyone is a liar.”(K)

12 How can I repay the Lord
for all the good he has done for me?(L)
13 I will take the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.(M)
14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.(N)

15 The death of his faithful ones
is valuable in the Lord’s sight.(O)
16 Lord, I am indeed your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your female servant.
You have loosened my bonds.(P)

17 I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.(Q)
18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,(R)
19 in the courts of the Lord’s house—
within you, Jerusalem.(S)
Hallelujah!

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Proverbs 15:20-21

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.(A)

21 Foolishness brings joy to one without sense,
but a person with understanding walks a straight path.(B)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday May 18, 2018 (NIV)

1 Samuel 22-23

Saul’s Increasing Paranoia

22 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam.(A) When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.(B)

From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God will do for me.” So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.

Then the prophet Gad(C) said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Leave and return to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree(D) at the high place. His spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him. Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin: Is Jesse’s son going to give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he’ll make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?(E) That’s why all of you have conspired against me! Nobody tells me[a] when my own son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son.(F) None of you cares about me(G) or tells me[b] that my son has stirred up my own servant to wait in ambush for me, as is the case today.”

Then Doeg the Edomite,(H) who was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.(I) 10 Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him(J) and gave him provisions.(K) He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”(L)

Slaughter of the Priests

11 The king sent messengers to summon the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests in Nob. All of them came to the king. 12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!”

“I’m at your service,(M) my lord,” he said.

13 Saul asked him, “Why did you and Jesse’s son conspire against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him, so he could rise up against me and wait in ambush, as is the case today.”(N)

14 Ahimelech replied to the king: “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David?(O) He is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your house. 15 Was today the first time I inquired of God for him?(P) Of course not! Please don’t let the king make an accusation against your servant or any of my father’s family, for your servant didn’t have any idea[c] about all this.”

16 But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech—you and your father’s whole family!”

17 Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord(Q) because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.”[d] But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the Lord.

18 So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed eighty-five men(R) who wore linen ephods.(S) 19 He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword—both men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.(T)

20 However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar,(U) and he fled to David.(V) 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite(W) was there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I myself am responsible for[e] the lives of everyone in your father’s family. 23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who wants to take my life wants to take your life.(X) You will be safe with me.”

Deliverance at Keilah

23 It was reported to David: “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah(Y) and raiding the threshing floors.”

So David inquired of the Lord:(Z) “Should I launch an attack against these Philistines?”

The Lord answered David, “Launch an attack against the Philistines and rescue Keilah.”

But David’s men said to him, “Look, we’re afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

Once again, David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you.”(AA) Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah. Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.

When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates.” Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.

When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar,(AB) “Bring the ephod.”(AC)

10 Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, your servant has reliable information that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell your servant.”

The Lord answered, “He will come down.”

12 Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?”

“They will,”(AD) the Lord responded.

13 So David and his men, numbering about six hundred,(AE) left Keilah at once and moved from place to place.(AF) When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition. 14 David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph.(AG) Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.(AH)

A Renewed Covenant

15 David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. 16 Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith[f] in God,(AI) 17 saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel,(AJ) and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.”(AK) 18 Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord’s presence.(AL) Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

David’s Narrow Escape

19 Some Ziphites(AM) came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “David is[g] hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon. 20 Now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king.”(AN)

21 “May you be blessed by the Lord,” replied Saul, “for you have shown concern for me.(AO) 22 Go and check again. Investigate[h] where he goes[i] and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning. 23 Investigate[j] all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I’ll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I’ll search for him among all the clans[k] of Judah.” 24 So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul.

Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon(AP) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, 25 and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there.

26 Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.(AQ) 27 Then a messenger came to Saul saying, “Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!” 28 So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation. 29 From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.(AR)

Footnotes:

  1. 22:8 Lit No one uncovers my ear
  2. 22:8 Lit or uncovers my ear
  3. 22:15 Lit didn’t know a thing, small or large
  4. 22:17 Lit didn’t uncover my ear
  5. 22:22 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads I myself turn in
  6. 23:16 Lit and strengthened his hand
  7. 23:19 Lit “Is David not . . . Jeshimon?
  8. 23:22 Lit Know and see
  9. 23:22 Lit watch his place where his foot will be
  10. 23:23 Lit See and know
  11. 23:23 Or thousands
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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John 10:1-21

The Good Shepherd

10 “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber.(A) The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd(B) of the sheep.(C) The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand(D) what he was telling them.

Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am(E) the gate for the sheep.(F) All who came before me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal(G) and kill and destroy.(H) I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

11 “I am the good shepherd.(I) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(J) 12 The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them[b] and runs away when he sees a wolf(K) coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father.(L) I lay down my life(M) for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep(N) that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.(O) 17 This is why the Father loves me,(P) because I lay down my life(Q) so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”(R)

19 Again the Jews were divided(S) because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon(T) and he’s crazy. Why do you listen to him?” 21 Others were saying, “These aren’t the words of someone who is demon-possessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”(U)

Footnotes:

  1. 10:8 Other mss omit before me
  2. 10:12 Lit leaves the sheep
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Psalm 115

Psalm 115

Glory to God Alone

Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your name give glory
because of your faithful love, because of your truth.(A)
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”(B)
Our God is in heaven
and does whatever he pleases.(C)

Their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.(D)
They have mouths but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.(E)
They have hands but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk.(F)
They cannot make a sound with their throats.(G)
Those who make them are[a] just like them,
as are all who trust in them.(H)

Israel,[b] trust in the Lord!(I)
He is their help and shield.(J)
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord!(K)
He is their help and shield.(L)
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!(M)
He is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us.
He will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;(N)
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord
small and great alike.(O)

14 May the Lord add to your numbers,
both yours and your children’s.(P)
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.(Q)
16 The heavens are the Lord’s,[c]
but the earth he has given to the human race.(R)
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
nor any of those descending into the silence of death.(S)
18 But we will bless the Lord,
both now and forever.(T)
Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

  1. 115:8 Or May those who make them become
  2. 115:9 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read House of Israel
  3. 115:16 Lit the Lord’s heavens
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Proverbs 15:18-19

18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(A)
but one slow to anger(B) calms strife.

19 A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.(C)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday May 17, 2018 (NIV)

1 Samuel 20-21

Jonathan Protects David

20 David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done?(A) What did I do wrong? How have I sinned against your father so that he wants to take my life?”

Jonathan said to him, “No, you won’t die. Listen, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without telling me.[a] So why would he hide this matter from me? This can’t be true.”

But David said, “Your father certainly knows that I have found favor with you. He has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or else he will be grieved.’” David also swore, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”(B)

Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon,(C) and I’m supposed to sit down and eat with the king.(D) Instead, let me go, and I’ll hide in the countryside for the next two nights.[b](E) If your father misses me at all, say, ‘David urgently requested my permission to go quickly to his hometown Bethlehem(F) for an annual sacrifice(G) there involving the whole clan.’ If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he becomes angry, you will know he has evil intentions. Deal kindly with[c] your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the Lord.(H) If I have done anything wrong,(I) then kill me yourself; why take me to your father?”

“No!” Jonathan responded. “If I ever find out my father has evil intentions against you, wouldn’t I tell you about it?”

10 So David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

11 He answered David, “Come on, let’s go out to the countryside.” So both of them went out to the countryside. 12 “By the Lord, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If I find out that he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?[d] 13 If my father intends to bring evil on you, may God punish Jonathan and do so severely(J) if I do not tell you[e] and send you away so you may leave safely. May the Lord be with you,(K) just as he was with my father. 14 If I continue to live, show me kindness[f] from the Lord, but if I die, 15 don’t ever withdraw your kindness from my household—not even when the Lord cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”(L) 16 Then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David,(M) saying, “May the Lord hold David’s enemies accountable.”[g](N) 17 Jonathan once again swore to David[h] in his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.(O)

18 Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the New Moon;(P) you’ll be missed because your seat will be empty. 19 The following day hurry down and go to the place where you hid on the day this incident began and stay beside the rock Ezel. 20 I will shoot three arrows beside it as if I’m aiming at a target. 21 Then I will send a servant and say, ‘Go and find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to the servant, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you—get them,’ then come, because as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no problem. 22 But if I say this to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you!’(Q) then go, for the Lord is sending you away. 23 As for the matter you and I have spoken about,(R) the Lord will be a witness[i] between you and me forever.”(S) 24 So David hid in the countryside.

At the New Moon, the king sat down to eat the meal. 25 He sat at his usual place on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat facing him[j] and Abner took his place beside Saul, but David’s place was empty.(T) 26 Saul did not say anything that day because he thought, “Something unexpected has happened; he must be ceremonially unclean—yes, that’s it, he is unclean.”(U)

27 However, the day after the New Moon, the second day, David’s place was still empty, and Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why didn’t Jesse’s son come to the meal either yesterday or today?”

28 Jonathan answered, “David asked for my permission to go to Bethlehem.(V) 29 He said, ‘Please let me go because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if I have found favor with you, let me go so I can see my brothers.’ That’s why he didn’t come to the king’s table.”

30 Then Saul became angry with Jonathan and shouted, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you are siding with Jesse’s son to your own shame and to the disgrace of your mother?[k] 31 Every day Jesse’s son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me—he must die!”(W)

32 Jonathan answered his father back: “Why is he to be killed? What has he done?”(X)

33 Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him,(Y) so he knew that his father was determined to kill David.(Z) 34 He got up from the table fiercely angry and did not eat any food that second day of the New Moon, for he was grieved because of his father’s shameful behavior toward David.

35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the countryside for the appointed meeting with David. A young servant was with him. 36 He said to the servant, “Run and find the arrows I’m shooting.”(AA) As the servant ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him. 37 He came to the location of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, but Jonathan called to him and said, “The arrow is beyond you, isn’t it?”(AB) 38 Then Jonathan called to him, “Hurry up and don’t stop!” Jonathan’s servant picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39 He did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement. 40 Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the servant who was with him and said, “Go, take it back to the city.”

41 When the servant had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone Ezel, fell facedown to the ground, and payed homage three times.(AC) Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept with each other, though David wept more.(AD)

42 Jonathan then said to David, “Go in the assurance the two of us pledged in the name of the Lord when we said: The Lord will be a witness between you and me and between my offspring and your offspring forever.”(AE) Then David left, and Jonathan went into the city.

David Flees to Nob

21 David went to the priest Ahimelech(AF) at Nob.(AG) Ahimelech was afraid to meet David, so he said to him, “Why are you alone and no one is with you?”

David answered the priest Ahimelech, “The king gave me a mission, but he told me, ‘Don’t let anyone know anything about the mission I’m sending you on or what I have ordered you to do.’ I have stationed my young men at a certain place. Now what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever can be found.”

The priest told him, “There is no ordinary bread on hand. However, there is consecrated bread,(AH) but the young men may eat it[l] only if they have kept themselves from women.”(AI)

David answered him, “I swear that women are being kept from us, as always when I go out to battle.(AJ) The young men’s bodies[m] are consecrated(AK) even on an ordinary mission, so of course their bodies are consecrated today.” So the priest gave him the consecrated bread,(AL) for there was no bread there except the Bread of the Presence(AM) that had been removed from the presence of the Lord. When the bread was removed, it had been replaced with warm bread.

One of Saul’s servants, detained before the Lord, was there that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite,(AN) chief of Saul’s shepherds.

David said to Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword on hand? I didn’t even bring my sword or my weapons since the king’s mission was urgent.”

The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine,(AO) whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want to take it for yourself, then take it, for there isn’t another one here.”

“There’s none like it!” David said. “Give it to me.”

David Flees to Gath

10 David fled that day from Saul’s presence and went to King Achish of Gath.(AP) 11 But Achish’s servants said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Don’t they sing about him during their dances:

Saul has killed his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands?”(AQ)

12 David took this to heart[n] and became very afraid of King Achish of Gath, 13 so he pretended to be insane in their presence.(AR) He acted like a madman around them,[o] scribbling[p] on the doors of the city gate and letting saliva run down his beard.

14 “Look! You can see the man is crazy,” Achish said to his servants. “Why did you bring him to me? 15 Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?”(AS)

Footnotes:

  1. 20:2 Lit without uncovering my ear
  2. 20:5 Lit countryside until the third night
  3. 20:8 Or Show loyalty to
  4. 20:12 Lit and uncover your ear
  5. 20:13 Lit severely—I will uncover your ear
  6. 20:14 Or loyalty, also in v. 15
  7. 20:16 Lit Lord require it from the hand of David’s enemies
  8. 20:17 LXX; MT reads Jonathan once again made David swear
  9. 20:23 LXX; MT omits a witness
  10. 20:25 Text emended; MT reads Jonathan got up
  11. 20:30 Lit your mother’s nakedness
  12. 21:4 DSS; MT omits may eat it
  13. 21:5 Lit vessels
  14. 21:12 Lit David placed these words in his heart
  15. 21:13 Lit madman in their hand
  16. 21:13 LXX reads drumming
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John 9

The Sixth Sign: Healing a Man Born Blind

As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him: “Rabbi,(A) who sinned, this man(B) or his parents,(C) that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works(D) might be displayed in him. We[a] must do the works(E) of him who sent me[b] while it is day.(F) Night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”(G)

After he said these things he spit on the ground, made some mud(H) from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam”(I) (which means “Sent”). So he left, washed, and came back seeing.(J)

His neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit begging?” Some said, “He’s the one.” Others were saying, “No, but he looks like him.”

He kept saying, “I’m the one.”

10 So they asked him, “Then how were your eyes opened?”

11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Siloam(K) and wash.’ So when I went and washed I received my sight.”(L)

12 “Where is he?” they asked.

“I don’t know,” he said.

The Healed Man’s Testimony

13 They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees.(M) 14 The day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath.(N) 15 Then the Pharisees asked him again how he received his sight.

“He put mud on my eyes,” he told them. “I washed and I can see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God,(O) because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a sinful man(P) perform such signs?” And there was a division(Q) among them.

17 Again they asked the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he opened your eyes?”

“He’s a prophet,”(R) he said.

18 The Jews did not believe this about him—that he was blind and received sight—until they summoned the parents of the one who had received his sight.

19 They asked them, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

20 “We know this is our son and that he was born blind,” his parents answered. 21 “But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he’s of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah,(S) he would be banned from the synagogue. 23 This is why his parents said, “He’s of age; ask him.”

24 So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory(T) to God.(U) We know that this man is a sinner.”

25 He answered, “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 “I already told you,” he said, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t want to become his disciples too, do you?”

28 They ridiculed him: “You’re that man’s disciple, but we’re Moses’s(V) disciples. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But this man—we don’t know where he’s from.”(W)

30 “This is an amazing thing!” the man told them. “You don’t know where he is from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners,(X) but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will,(Y) he listens to him.(Z) 32 Throughout history[c] no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind.(AA) 33 If this man were not from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.”(AB)

34 “You were born entirely in sin,”(AC) they replied, “and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.(AD)

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, and when he found him, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”[d](AE)

36 “Who is he, Sir,(AF) that I may believe in him?” he asked.

37 Jesus answered, “You have seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 “I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, “I came into this world(AG) for judgment,(AH) in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.”(AI)

40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?”

41 “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin.(AJ) But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

Footnotes:

  1. 9:4 Other mss read I
  2. 9:4 Other mss read us
  3. 9:32 Lit From the age
  4. 9:35 Other mss read the Son of God
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Psalm 113-114

Psalm 113

Praise to the Merciful God

Hallelujah!
Give praise, servants of the Lord;
praise the name of the Lord.(A)
Let the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and forever.(B)
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
let the name of the Lord be praised.(C)

The Lord is exalted above all the nations,(D)
his glory above the heavens.(E)
Who is like the Lord our God—
the one enthroned on high,(F)
who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?(G)
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the trash heap(H)
in order to seat them with nobles—
with the nobles of his people.(I)
He gives the childless woman a household,
making her the joyful mother of children.(J)
Hallelujah!

Psalm 114

God’s Deliverance of Israel

When Israel came out of Egypt—
the house of Jacob from a people
who spoke a foreign language(K)
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel, his dominion.(L)

The sea looked and fled;(M)
the Jordan turned back.(N)
The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills, like lambs.(O)
Why was it, sea, that you fled?
Jordan, that you turned back?(P)
Mountains, that you skipped like rams?
Hills, like lambs?(Q)

Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,(R)
who turned the rock into a pool,
the flint into a spring.(S)

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Proverbs 15:15-17

15 All the days of the oppressed are miserable,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.(A)

17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox(B) with hatred.(C)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday May 16, 2018 (NIV)

1 Samuel 18:5-19:24

David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the fighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well.

As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,(A) singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments. As they danced, the women sang:

Saul has killed his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands.(B)

Saul was furious and resented this song.[a] “They credited tens of thousands to David,” he complained, “but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?”(C) So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward.

Saul Attempts to Kill David

10 The next day an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul,(D) and he began to rave[b] inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual,(E) but Saul was holding a spear,(F) 11 and he threw it, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.”(G) But David got away from him twice.

12 Saul was afraid of David,(H) because the Lord was with David(I) but had left Saul.(J) 13 Therefore, Saul sent David away from him and made him commander over a thousand men. David led the troops(K) 14 and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him.(L) 15 When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David(M) because he was leading their troops. 17 Saul told David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife,(N) if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord’s battles.”(O) But Saul was thinking, “I don’t need to raise a hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”(P)

18 Then David responded, “Who am I,(Q) and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19 When it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.(R)

David’s Marriage to Michal

20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal(S) loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him.[c] 21 “I’ll give her to him,” Saul thought. “She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.”(T) So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.”(U)

22 Saul then ordered his servants, “Speak to David in private and tell him, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king’s son-in-law.’”

23 Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David,[d] but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor commoner.”(V)

24 The servants reported back to Saul, “These are the words David spoke.”

25 Then Saul replied, “Say this to David: ‘The king desires no other bride-price(W) except a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’”(X) Actually, Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.(Y)

26 When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased[e] to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,[f] 27 David and his men went out and killed two hundred[g] Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as full payment to the king to become his son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife.(Z) 28 Saul realized[h] that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, 29 and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David’s enemy from then on.

30 Every time the Philistine commanders came out to fight,(AA) David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers.(AB) So his name became well known.

David Delivered from Saul

19 Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David.(AC) But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much,(AD) so he told him: “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there. I’ll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what he says, I’ll tell you.”(AE)

Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: “The king should not sin against his servant David.(AF) He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you. He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine,(AG) and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel.(AH) You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”(AI)

Saul listened to Jonathan’s advice and swore an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be killed.” So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he did before.(AJ)

When war broke out again, David went out and fought against the Philistines. He defeated them with such great force that they fled from him.

Now an evil spirit sent from the Lord(AK) came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear.(AL) David was playing the lyre,(AM) 10 and Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear.(AN) As the spear struck the wall, David eluded Saul, ran away, and escaped that night. 11 Saul sent agents to David’s house to watch for him and kill him in the morning.(AO) But his wife Michal(AP) warned David, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!” 12 So she lowered David from the window, and he fled and escaped.(AQ) 13 Then Michal took the household idol and put it on the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. 14 When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, “He’s sick.”(AR)

15 Saul sent the agents back to see David and said, “Bring him on his bed so I can kill him.” 16 When the agents arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goat hair on its head.

17 Saul asked Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!”

She answered him, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’”

18 So David fled and escaped and went to Samuel at Ramah(AS) and told him everything Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel left and stayed at Naioth.(AT)

19 When it was reported to Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, 20 he sent agents to seize David.(AU) However, when they saw the group of prophets prophesying(AV) with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s agents, and they also started prophesying. 21 When they reported to Saul, he sent other agents, and they also began prophesying.(AW) So Saul tried again and sent a third group of agents, and even they began prophesying. 22 Then Saul himself went to Ramah. He came to the large cistern at Secu and asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”

“At Naioth in Ramah,” someone said.

23 So he went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God also came on him,(AX) and as he walked along, he prophesied until he entered Naioth in Ramah. 24 Saul then removed his clothes and also prophesied before Samuel; he collapsed and lay naked(AY) all that day and all that night. That is why they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”(AZ)

Footnotes:

  1. 18:8 Lit furious; this saying was evil in his eyes
  2. 18:10 Or prophesy
  3. 18:20 Lit Saul, the thing was right in his eyes
  4. 18:23 Lit words in David’s ears
  5. 18:26 Lit David, it was right in David’s eyes
  6. 18:26 Lit And the days were not full
  7. 18:27 LXX reads 100
  8. 18:28 Lit saw and knew
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John 8:31-59

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word,[a](A) you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth,(B) and the truth will set you free.”

33 “We are descendants[b] of Abraham,”(C) they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.(D) 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever,(E) but a son does remain forever.(F) 36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know you are descendants of Abraham,(G) but you are trying to kill me because my word has no place among you. 38 I speak what I have seen(H) in the presence of the Father;[c](I) so then, you do what you have heard from your father.”

39 “Our father is Abraham,” they replied.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did.(J) 40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth(K) that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You’re doing what your father does.”(L)

“We weren’t born(M) of sexual immorality,”(N) they said. “We have one Father—God.”(O)

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,(P) because I came from God(Q) and I am here. For I didn’t come on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to[d] my word.(R) 44 You are of your father the devil,(S) and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer(T) from the beginning(U) and does not stand in the truth,(V) because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature,[e] because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Who among you can convict me of sin?(W) If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

Jesus and Abraham

48 The Jews responded to him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritan(X) and have a demon?”(Y)

49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I do not seek my own glory;(Z) there is one who seeks it and judges. 51 Truly I tell you, if anyone keeps my word,(AA) he will never see death.”

52 Then the Jews said, “Now we know you have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham who died? And the prophets died. Who do you claim to be?”

54 “If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God’—he is the one who glorifies me. 55 You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don’t know him,(AB) I would be a liar like you. But I do know him,(AC) and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it(AD) and was glad.”

57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham?”[f]

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”(AE)

59 So they picked up stones(AF) to throw at him.(AG) But Jesus was hidden[g](AH) and went out of the temple.[h](AI)

Footnotes:

  1. 8:31 Or my teaching, or my message, also in v. 37
  2. 8:33 Or offspring; lit seed, also in v. 37; Jn 7:42
  3. 8:38 Other mss read of my Father
  4. 8:43 Or cannot hear
  5. 8:44 Lit from his own things
  6. 8:57 Other mss read and Abraham has seen you?
  7. 8:59 Or Jesus hid himself
  8. 8:59 Other mss add and having gone through their midst, he passed by
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Psalm 112

Psalm 112

The Traits of the Righteous

Hallelujah![a]
Happy is the person who fears the Lord,
taking great delight in his commands.(A)

His descendants will be powerful in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.(B)
Wealth and riches are in his house,(C)
and his righteousness endures forever.(D)
Light shines in the darkness for the upright.(E)
He is gracious, compassionate, and righteous.(F)
Good will come to the one who lends generously
and conducts his business fairly.(G)
He will never be shaken.(H)
The righteous one will be remembered forever.(I)
He will not fear bad news;
his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord.(J)
His heart is assured; he will not fear.(K)
In the end he will look in triumph on his foes.(L)
He distributes freely to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.(M)
His horn will be exalted in honor.(N)

10 The wicked one will see it and be angry;
he will gnash his teeth in despair.(O)
The desire of the wicked leads to ruin.(P)

Footnotes:

  1. 112:1 The lines of this poem form an acrostic.
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Proverbs 15:12-14

12 A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;(A)
he will not consult the wise.

13 A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.(B)

14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge,(C)
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.(D)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday May 15, 2018 (NIV)

1 Samuel 17:1-18:4

David versus Goliath

17 The Philistines(A) gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh(B) and Azekah(C) in Ephes-dammim.(D) Saul and the men of Israel gathered and camped in the Valley of Elah;(E) then they lined up in battle formation to face the Philistines.

The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them. Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath,(F) came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches[a][b] tall and wore a bronze helmet[c] and bronze scale armor that weighed one hundred twenty-five pounds.[d] There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze javelin(G) was slung between his shoulders. His spear shaft(H) was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed fifteen pounds.[e] In addition, a shield-bearer(I) was walking in front of him.

He stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations: “Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?” He asked them, “Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul?(J) Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.”(K) 10 Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today.(L) Send me a man so we can fight each other!” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified.

12 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite(M) from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons(N) and during Saul’s reign was already an old man. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war, and their names(O) were Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, the next, and Shammah, the third, 14 and David was the youngest.(P) The three oldest had followed Saul, 15 but David kept going back and forth from Saul(Q) to tend his father’s flock in Bethlehem.

16 Every morning and evening for forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand. 17 One day Jesse had told his son David: “Take this half-bushel[f] of roasted grain along with these ten loaves of bread(R) for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Also take these ten portions of cheese to the field commander.[g] Check on the well-being of your brothers(S) and bring a confirmation from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.”

20 So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had charged him.

He arrived at the perimeter of the camp(T) as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other. 22 David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster(U) and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were. 23 While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words,(V) which David heard. 24 When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified.

25 Previously, an Israelite man had declared: “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter.(W) The king will also make the family of that man’s father exempt from paying taxes in Israel.”(X)

26 David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?(Y) Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine(Z) that he should defy the armies(AA) of the living God?”(AB)

27 The troops told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”(AC)

28 David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and he became angry with him.(AD) “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!”

29 “What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.” 30 Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before.(AE)

31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him. 32 David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by[h] him;(AF) your servant will go(AG) and fight this Philistine!”

33 But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”

34 David answered Saul: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth.(AH) If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur,[i] strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”(AI)

Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”(AJ)

38 Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor. 39 David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. 40 Instead, he took his staff in his hand(AK) and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.

41 The Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him(AL) because he was just a youth, healthy[j](AM) and handsome. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog(AN) that you come against me with sticks?”[k] Then he cursed David by his gods.(AO) 44 “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!”(AP)

45 David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel—you have defied him.(AQ) 46 Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, remove your head, and give the corpses[l] of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the wild creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God,(AR) 47 and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves,(AS) for the battle is the Lord’s.(AT) He will hand you over to us.”

48 When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine.(AU) 49 David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown to the ground. 50 David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. David overpowered the Philistine and killed him without having a sword. 51 David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword,(AV) pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they fled.(AW) 52 The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron.[m](AX) Philistine bodies were strewn all along the Shaaraim road(AY) to Gath and Ekron.

53 When the Israelites returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps. 54 David took Goliath’s[n] head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent.

55 [o] When Saul had seen David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, “Whose son is this youth, Abner?”(AZ)

“Your Majesty, as surely as you live, I don’t know,” Abner replied.

56 The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is!”

57 When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand.(BA) 58 Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?”

“The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,”(BB) David answered.

David’s Success

18 When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship,[p] and loved him as much as he loved himself.(BC) Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father’s house.

Jonathan made a covenant with David(BD) because he loved him as much as himself. Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David,(BE) along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

Footnotes:

  1. 17:4 DSS, LXX read four cubits and a span
  2. 17:4 Lit was six cubits and a span
  3. 17:5 Lit helmet on his head
  4. 17:5 Lit 5,000 shekels
  5. 17:7 Lit 600 shekels
  6. 17:17 Lit this ephah
  7. 17:18 Lit the leader of 1,000
  8. 17:32 Lit let a man’s heart fall over
  9. 17:35 LXX reads throat; lit beard
  10. 17:42 Or ruddy
  11. 17:43 Some LXX mss add and stones?” And David said, “No! Worse than a dog!”
  12. 17:46 LXX reads give your limbs and the limbs
  13. 17:52 LXX reads Ashkelon
  14. 17:54 Lit the Philistine’s
  15. 17:55 LXX omits 1Sm 17:55–18:5
  16. 18:1 Lit the life of Jonathan was bound to the life of David
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John 8:21-30

Jesus Predicts His Departure

21 Then he said to them again, “I’m going away;(A) you will look for me, and you will die in your sin.(B) Where I’m going, you cannot come.”(C)

22 So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill himself, will he, since he says, ‘Where I’m going, you cannot come’(D)?”

23 “You are from below,” he told them, “I am from above.(E) You are of this world;(F) I am not of this world.(G) 24 Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they questioned.

“Exactly what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. 26 “I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the one who sent me(H) is true, and what I have heard from him—these things I tell the world.”(I)

27 They did not know he was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man,(J) then you will know that I am(K) he, and that I do nothing on my own.(L) But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. 29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone,(M) because I always do what pleases him.”

Truth and Freedom

30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

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Psalm 111

Psalm 111

Praise for the Lord’s Works

Hallelujah![a]
I will praise the Lord with all my heart
in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.(A)

The Lord’s works are great,
studied by all who delight in them.(B)
All that he does is splendid and majestic;(C)
his righteousness endures forever.(D)
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered.(E)
The Lord is gracious and compassionate.(F)
He has provided food for those who fear him;(G)
he remembers his covenant forever.(H)
He has shown his people the power of his works
by giving them the inheritance of the nations.(I)
The works of his hands are truth and justice;
all his instructions are trustworthy.(J)
They are established forever and ever,
enacted in truth and in uprightness.(K)
He has sent redemption to his people.(L)
He has ordained his covenant forever.
His name is holy and awe-inspiring.(M)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;(N)
all who follow his instructions[b] have good insight.(O)
His praise endures forever.(P)

Footnotes:

  1. 111:1 The lines of this poem form an acrostic.
  2. 111:10 Lit follow them
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Proverbs 15:11

11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord(A)
how much more, human hearts.(B)

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday May 14, 2018 (NIV)

1 Samuel 15-16

Saul Rejected as King

15 Samuel told Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel.(A) Now, listen to the words of the Lord. This is what the Lord of Armies says: ‘I witnessed[a] what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt.(B) Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have.(C) Do not spare them. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”(D)

Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi. He warned the Kenites,(E) “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt,(F) go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I’ll sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.

Then Saul struck down the Amalekites(G) from Havilah(H) all the way to Shur,(I) which is next to Egypt. He captured King Agag(J) of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword.(K) Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and choice animals,[b] as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, 11 “I regret that I made Saul king,(L) for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions.”(M) So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.(N)

12 Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, “Saul went to Carmel(O) where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal.”(P) 13 When Samuel came to him, Saul said, “May the Lord bless you.(Q) I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”

14 Samuel replied, “Then what is this sound of sheep, goats,[c] and cattle I hear?”

15 Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep, goats, and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord your God,(R) but the rest we destroyed.”(S)

16 “Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.”

“Tell me,” he replied.

17 Samuel continued, “Although you once considered yourself unimportant,(T) have you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel 18 and then sent you on a mission and said: ‘Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.’ 19 So why didn’t you obey the Lord? Why did you rush on the plunder(U) and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”

20 “But I did obey the Lord!” Saul answered.[d] “I went on the mission the Lord gave me: I brought back King Agag of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21 The troops took sheep, goats, and cattle from the plunder—the best of what was set apart for destruction—to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”(V)

22 Then Samuel said:

Does the Lord(W) take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
Look: to obey is better than sacrifice,
to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.(X)
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,(Y)
and defiance is like wickedness(Z) and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.(AA)

24 Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned.(AB) I have transgressed the Lord’s command(AC) and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them. 25 Now therefore, please forgive my sin(AD) and return with me so I can worship the Lord.”

26 Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord,(AE) the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the corner of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today(AF) and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.(AG) 29 Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel(AH) does not lie or change his mind, for he is not man who changes his mind.”(AI)

30 Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me(AJ) now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the Lord your God.”(AK) 31 Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the Lord.

32 Samuel said, “Bring me King Agag of Amalek.”

Agag came to him trembling,[e] for he thought, “Certainly the bitterness of death has come.”[f][g]

33 Samuel declared:

As your sword has made women childless,
so your mother will be childless among women.(AL)

Then he hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.

34 Samuel went to Ramah,(AM) and Saul went up to his home in Gibeah(AN) of Saul. 35 Even to the day of his death, Samuel never saw Saul again.(AO) Samuel mourned for Saul,(AP) and the Lord regretted he had made Saul king over Israel.

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul,(AQ) since I have rejected him as king over Israel?(AR) Fill your horn with oil(AS) and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem(AT) because I have selected a king from his sons.”

Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”

The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’(AU) Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do.(AV) You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”(AW)

Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem.(AX) When the elders of the town met him, they trembled[h] and asked, “Do[i] you come in peace?”(AY)

“In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves(AZ) and come with me to the sacrifice.”[j] Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab(BA) and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before him.”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees,[k] for humans see what is visible,[l] but the Lord sees the heart.”(BB)

Jesse called Abinadab(BC) and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. Then Jesse presented Shammah,(BD) but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” 10 After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” 11 Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,”(BE) he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” 12 So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy,[m] handsome appearance.(BF)

Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”(BG) 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him(BH) in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward.(BI) Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

David in Saul’s Court

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul,(BJ) and an evil spirit sent from the Lord began to torment him, 15 so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God comes on you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.”(BK)

17 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

18 One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is also a valiant man,(BL) a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the Lord is with him.”(BM)

19 Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul.(BN) 21 When David came to Saul(BO) and entered his service, Saul loved him very much, and David became his armor-bearer. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor with me.” 23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul,(BP) David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Footnotes:

  1. 15:2 LXX reads I will avenge
  2. 15:9 Lit and the second ones
  3. 15:14 Lit sheep in my ears
  4. 15:20 Lit answered Samuel
  5. 15:32 Hb obscure
  6. 15:32 LXX reads “Is death bitter in this way?”
  7. 15:32 Lit turned
  8. 16:4 LXX reads were astonished
  9. 16:4 DSS, LXX read “Seer, do
  10. 16:5 LXX reads and rejoice with me today
  11. 16:7 LXX reads God does not see as a man sees
  12. 16:7 Lit for the man sees according to the eyes
  13. 16:12 Or ruddy

Cross references:

  1. 15:1 : 1Sm 9:16
  2. 15:2 : Ex 17:8-16; Nm 24:20; Dt 25:17-19
  3. 15:3 : Nm 24:20; Dt 20:16-18
  4. 15:3 : Jos 6:17-21; 1Sm 22:19
  5. 15:6 : Jdg 1:16; 4:11
  6. 15:6 : Ex 18:9-10; Nm 10:29-32
  7. 15:7 : 1Sm 14:48
  8. 15:7 : Gn 16:7; 25:17-18
  9. 15:7 : Ex 15:22; 1Sm 27:8
  10. 15:8 : Nm 24:7; Est 3:1
  11. 15:8 : 1Sm 27:8; 30:1; 2Sm 8:12
  12. 15:11 : Gn 6:6-7; Ex 32:14; 2Sm 24:16
  13. 15:11 : 1Kg 9:6-7
  14. 15:11 : Ex 32:11-13; Lk 6:12
  15. 15:12 : Jos 15:55; 1Sm 25:2
  16. 15:12 : 1Sm 13:13-14
  17. 15:13 : Gn 14:19; 2Sm 2:5
  18. 15:15 : Gn 3:12-13
  19. 15:14-15 : Ex 32:21-24
  20. 15:17 : 1Sm 9:21
  21. 15:19 : 1Sm 14:32
  22. 15:21 : Ex 32:22-23
  23. 15:22 : Ps 40:6-8; 51:16-17; Is 1:11-15; Mc 6:6-8
  24. 15:22 : Heb 10:5-7
  25. 15:23 : Dt 18:10
  26. 15:23 : Gn 31:19,34
  27. 15:23 : 1Sm 8:7
  28. 15:24 : Nm 22:34; 2Sm 12:13; Ps 51:3-4
  29. 15:24 : Pr 29:25; Is 51:12-13
  30. 15:25 : Ex 10:17
  31. 15:26 : 1Sm 13:14; 16:1
  32. 15:28 : 1Sm 28:17-18
  33. 15:27-28 : 1Kg 11:30-36
  34. 15:29 : 1Ch 29:11; Ps 18:1-2
  35. 15:29 : Nm 23:19; Ezk 24:14
  36. 15:30 : Jn 12:43
  37. 15:30 : Is 29:13
  38. 15:33 : Gn 9:6; Jdg 1:7; Mt 7:2
  39. 15:34 : 1Sm 7:17
  40. 15:34 : 1Sm 11:4
  41. 15:35 : 1Sm 19:24
  42. 15:35 : 1Sm 16:1
  43. 16:1 : 1Sm 15:35
  44. 16:1 : 1Sm 13:13-14; 15:23
  45. 16:1 : 1Sm 9:16; 10:1; 2Kg 9:1
  46. 16:1 : Ru 4:17-22
  47. 16:2 : 1Sm 20:29
  48. 16:3 : Ex 4:15; Ac 9:6
  49. 16:3 : Dt 17:14-15; 1Sm 9:16
  50. 16:4 : Gn 48:7; Lk 2:4
  51. 16:4 : 1Kg 2:13; 2Kg 9:22; 1Ch 12:17-18
  52. 16:5 : Gn 35:2; Ex 19:10
  53. 16:6 : 1Sm 17:13
  54. 16:7 : 1Kg 8:39; Jr 17:10; Lk 16:15; Jn 2:24-25
  55. 16:8 : 1Sm 17:13
  56. 16:9 : 1Sm 17:13
  57. 16:11 : 1Sm 17:12; 2Sm 13:3
  58. 16:12 : 1Sm 17:42
  59. 16:12 : 1Sm 9:17
  60. 16:13 : 1Sm 10:1
  61. 16:13 : Ps 51:10-12; Ezk 36:27; Ac 2:1-17
  62. 16:14 : 1Sm 11:6; 18:12; 28:15
  63. 16:16 : 1Sm 18:10; 19:9; 2Kg 3:15
  64. 16:18 : 1Sm 17:32-36
  65. 16:18 : 1Sm 3:19; 18:12-14
  66. 16:20 : 1Sm 10:4,27; Pr 18:16
  67. 16:21 : Gn 41:46; Pr 22:29
  68. 16:23 : 1Sm 16:14-16
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

John 8:1-20

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.(A)

An Adulteress Forgiven

At dawn he went to the temple(B) again, and all the people were coming to him.(C) He sat down(D) and began to teach them.

Then the scribes and the Pharisees(E) brought a woman caught in adultery,(F) making her stand in the center. “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery.(G) In the law Moses(H) commanded us to stone such women.(I) So what do you say?” They asked this to trap him,(J) in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.

Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin(K) among you(L) should be the first to throw a stone at her.”(M) Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, Lord,”[a] she answered.

“Neither do I condemn you,”(N) said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”]

The Light of the World

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am(O) the light(P) of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”(Q)

13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”

14 “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “My testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going.(R) 15 You judge(S) by human standards.[b](T) I judge no one.(U) 16 And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.(V) 17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.(W) 18 I am the one who testifies(X) about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?”

“You know neither me nor my Father,”(Y) Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”(Z) 20 He spoke these words by the treasury,(AA) while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

Footnotes:

  1. 8:11 Or Sir; Jn 4:15,49; 5:7; 6:34; 9:36
  2. 8:15 Lit You judge according to the flesh
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 110

Psalm 110

The Priestly King

A psalm of David.

This is the declaration of the Lord
to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool.”(A)
The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion.
Rule[a] over your surrounding[b] enemies.(B)
Your people will volunteer
on your day of battle.[c](C)
In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn,
the dew of your youth belongs to you.[d](D)
The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back:
“You are a priest forever
according to the pattern of Melchizedek.”(E)

The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his anger.(F)
He will judge the nations, heaping up corpses;(G)
he will crush leaders over the entire world.(H)
He will drink from the brook by the road;(I)
therefore, he will lift up his head.(J)

Footnotes:

  1. 110:2 One Hb ms, LXX, Tg read You will rule
  2. 110:2 Lit Rule in the midst of your
  3. 110:3 Lit power
  4. 110:3 Hb obscure
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 15:8-10

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,(A)
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.(B)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.(C)

10 Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.