4, Psalm 33; 1 Samuel 23-24; Daniel 5; Luke 3:1-22
Psalm 33
1
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
42 I
2
Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
8 I
3
Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
8 I
4
For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.
16 I
5
He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
12 I
6
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
14 I
7
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8
Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 I
9
For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 I
10
The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
2 I
11
The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
2 I
12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
8 I
13
The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14
From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
2 I
15
He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
4 I
16
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
4 I
17
An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
4 I
18
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
9 I
19
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
7 I
20
Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
14 I
21
For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
10 I
22
Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
14 I
1 Samuel 23
1
Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
2
Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3
And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
4
Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5
So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6
And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7
And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8
And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9
And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
10
Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
11
Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.
12
Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.
13
Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
14
And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
2 I
15
And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16
And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
2 I
17
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
18
And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
2 I
19
Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
20
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.
21
And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the Lord; for ye have compassion on me.
22
Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
23
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24
And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
25
Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David; wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26
And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27
But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28
Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
29
And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
1 Samuel 24
1
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
2
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3
And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4
And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.
5
And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6
And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.
2 I
7
So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10
Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.
11
Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
12
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
2 I
13
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
14
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15
The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
2 I
16
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
4 I
18
And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
19
For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
2 I
20
And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
21
Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
22
And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
Daniel 5
1
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
4 I
2
Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
3
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4 I
4
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
6 I
5
In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6 I
6
Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
4 I
7
The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
4 I
8
Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
4 I
9
Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
4 I
10
Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:
11
There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
12
Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
13
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
4 I
14
I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
6 I
15
And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:
4 I
16
And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
2 I
17
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
4 I
18
O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
19
And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
20
But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21
And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
22
And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
23
But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
24
Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
25
And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.
4 I
26
This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
4 I
27
Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
4 I
28
Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
4 I
29
Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
4 I
30
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
6 I
31
And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
6 I
Luke 3
1
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
2
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
4 I
4
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 I
5
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
2 I
6
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
2 I
7
Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
2 I
9
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
2 I
10
And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
2 I
11
He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
4 I
12
Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
2 I
13
And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
4 I
14
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
4 I
15
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
16
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
17
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
4 I
18
And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
19
But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
20
Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
21
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
4 I
22
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
5 I