Bible Readings for May 24, 2011

Today our passages are 2 Samuel 4:1–6:23; John 13:31–14:14; Psalm 119:17-32; and Proverbs 15:31-32. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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2 Samuel 4-6:23 (Contemporary English Version)

2 Samuel 4

Ishbosheth Is Killed

1Ishbosheth a] felt like giving up after he heard that Abner had died in Hebron. Everyone in Israel was terrified. 2Ishbosheth had put the two brothers Baanah and Rechab in charge of the soldiers who raided enemy villages. Rimmon was their father, and they were from the town of Beeroth, which belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. 3The people who used to live in Beeroth had run away to Gittaim, and they still live b] there. 4Saul's son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, c] who had not been able to walk since he was five years old. It happened when someone from Jezreel told his nurse that Saul and Jonathan had died. d] She hurried off with the boy in her arms, but he fell and injured his legs. 5One day about noon, Rechab and Baanah went to Ishbosheth's house. It was a hot day, and he was resting 6-7in his bedroom. The two brothers went into the house, pretending to get some flour. But once they were inside, they stabbed Ishbosheth in the stomach and killed him. Then they cut off his head and took it with them.

Rechab and Baanah walked through the Jordan River valley all night long. 8Finally they turned west and went to Hebron. They went in to see David and told him, "Your Majesty, here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you! The LORD has let you get even with Saul and his family."

9David answered:

I swear that only the LORD rescues me when I'm in trouble! 10When a man came to Ziklag and told me that Saul was dead, he thought he deserved a reward for bringing good news. But I grabbed him and killed him.

11You evil men have done something much worse than he did. You've killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed. I'll make you pay for that. I'll wipe you from the face of the earth!

12Then David said to his troops, "Kill these two brothers! Cut off their hands and feet and hang their bodies by the pool in Hebron. But bury Ishbosheth's head in Abner's tomb near Hebron." And they did.

2 Samuel 5

David Becomes King of Israel
(1 Chronicles 11.1-3)

1Israel's leaders met with David at Hebron and said, "We are your relatives. 2Even when Saul was king, you led our nation in battle. And the LORD promised that someday you would rule Israel and take care of us like a shepherd."

3During the meeting, David made an agreement with the leaders and asked the LORD to be their witness. Then the leaders poured olive oil on David's head to show that he was now the king of Israel.

4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he ruled for forty years. 5He lived in Hebron for the first seven and a half years and ruled only Judah. Then he moved to Jerusalem, where he ruled both Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.

How David Captured Jerusalem
(1 Chronicles 11.4-9; 14.1,2)

6The Jebusites lived in Jerusalem, and David led his army there to attack them. The Jebusites did not think he could get in, so they told him, "You can't get in here! We could run you off, even if we couldn't see or walk!"

7-9David told his troops, "You will have to go up through the water tunnel to get those Jebusites. I hate people like them who can't walk or see." e] That's why there is still a rule that says, "Only people who can walk and see are allowed in the temple." f] David captured the fortress on Mount Zion, then he moved there and named it David's City. He had the city rebuilt, starting with the landfill to the east. 10David became a great and strong ruler, because the LORD All-Powerful was on his side.

11King Hiram of Tyre sent some officials to David. Carpenters and stone workers came with them, and they brought cedar logs so they could build David a palace.

12David knew that the LORD had made him king of Israel and that he had made him a powerful ruler for the good of his people.

David's Sons Born in Jerusalem
(1 Chronicles 14.3-7)

13After David left Hebron and moved to Jerusalem, he married many women g] from Jerusalem, h] and he had a lot of children. 14His sons who were born there were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16Elishama, Eliada, i] and Eliphelet.

David Fights the Philistines
(1 Chronicles 14.8-17)

17The Philistines heard that David was now king of Israel, and they came into the hill country to try and capture him. But David found out and went into his fortress. j] 18So the Philistines camped in Rephaim Valley. k] 19David asked the LORD, "Should I attack the Philistines? Will you let me win?"

The LORD told David, "Attack! I will let you win."

20David attacked the Philistines and defeated them. Then he said, "I watched the LORD break through my enemies like a mighty flood." So he named the place "The Lord Broke Through. " l] 21David and his troops also carried away the idols that the Philistines had left behind. 22Some time later, the Philistines came back into the hill country and camped in Rephaim Valley. 23David asked the LORD what he should do, and the LORD answered:

Don't attack them from the front. Circle around behind and attack from among the balsam m] trees. 24Wait until you hear a sound like troops marching through the tops of the trees. Then attack quickly! That sound will mean I have marched out ahead of you to fight the Philistine army. 25David obeyed the LORD and defeated the Philistines. He even chased them all the way from Geba to the entrance to Gezer.

2 Samuel 6

David Brings the Sacred Chest Back to Jerusalem
(1 Chronicles 13.1-14; 15.1--16.3,43)

1David brought together thirty thousand of Israel's best soldiers and 2led them to Baalah in Judah, which was also called Kiriath-Jearim. They were going there n] to get the sacred chest and bring it back to Jerusalem. The throne of the LORD All-Powerful is above the winged creatures o] on top of this chest, and he is worshiped there. p] 3They put the sacred chest on a new ox cart and started bringing it down the hill from Abinadab's house. Abinadab's sons Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the ox cart, 4with Ahio q] walking in front of it. 5Some of the people of Israel were playing music on small harps and other stringed instruments, and on tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. David and the others were happy, and they danced for the LORD with all their might. 6But when they came to Nacon's threshing-floor, the oxen stumbled, so Uzzah reached out and took hold of the sacred chest. 7The LORD God was very angry at Uzzah for doing this, and he killed Uzzah right there beside the chest.

8David got angry at God for killing Uzzah. He named that place "Bursting Out Against Uzzah," r] and that's what it's still called. 9David was afraid of the LORD and thought, "Should I really take the sacred chest to my city?" 10He decided not to take it there. Instead, he turned off the road and took it to the home of Obed Edom, who was from Gath. s] 11-12The chest stayed there for three months, and the LORD greatly blessed Obed Edom, his family, and everything he owned. Then someone told King David, "The LORD has done this because the sacred chest is in Obed Edom's house."

Right away, David went to Obed Edom's house to get the chest and bring it to David's City. Everyone was celebrating. 13The people carrying the chest walked six steps, then David sacrificed an ox and a choice cow. 14He was dancing for the LORD with all his might, but he wore only a linen cloth. t] 15He and everyone else were celebrating by shouting and blowing horns while the chest was being carried along. 16Saul's daughter Michal looked out her window and watched the chest being brought into David's City. But when she saw David jumping and dancing for the LORD, she was disgusted.

17They put the chest inside a tent that David had set up for it. David worshiped the LORD by sacrificing animals and burning them on an altar, u] 18then he blessed the people in the name of the LORD All-Powerful. 19He gave all the men and women in the crowd a small loaf of bread, some meat, and a handful of raisins, and everyone went home.

Michal Talks to David

20David went home so he could ask the LORD to bless his family. But Saul's daughter Michal went out and started yelling at him. "You were really great today!" she said. "You acted like a dirty old man, dancing around half-naked in front of your servants' slave-girls."
21David told her, "The LORD didn't choose your father or anyone else in your family to be the leader of his people. The LORD chose me, and I was celebrating in honor of him. 22I'll show you just how great I can be! I'll even be disgusting to myself. But those slave-girls you talked about will still honor me!"

23Michal never had any children.

Footnotes:
2 Samuel 4:1 Ishbosheth: Hebrew "The Son of Saul."
2 Samuel 4:3 live: The Hebrew word means that they did not have the full legal rights of citizens.
2 Samuel 4:4 Mephibosheth: Some manuscripts of one ancient translation have "Mephibaal." In 1 Chronicles 8.34 and 9.40 he is called "Meribbaal." See the note on "baal" and "bosheth" at 2.8.
2 Samuel 4:4 Saul. . . died: See 1 Samuel 31.1-6.
2 Samuel 5:7 You will. . . or see: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
2 Samuel 5:7 temple: Or "palace."
2 Samuel 5:13 married many women: Some of these women were second-class wives (see the note at 3.7).
2 Samuel 5:13 from Jerusalem: Or "in Jerusalem."
2 Samuel 5:16 Eliada: See 1 Chronicles 3.8. First Chronicles 14.7 has "Baalyada."
2 Samuel 5:17 fortress: Probably the fortress of Adullam, which was David's former hideout (see 1 Samuel 22.1,4; 24.22). Or it could refer to the older walled city of Jerusalem, called the "fortress on Mount Zion" in verses 7-9.
2 Samuel 5:18 Rephaim Valley: A few miles southwest of Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 5:20 The Lord Broke Through: Or "Baal-Perazim."
2 Samuel 5:23 balsam: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
2 Samuel 6:2 to Baalah. . . there: The Dead Sea Scrolls and 1 Chronicles 13.6; the Standard Hebrew Text "from Baalah in Judah. They had gone there."
2 Samuel 6:2 winged creatures: Two golden statues of winged creatures were on top of the sacred chest and were symbols of the LORD's throne on earth (see Exodus 25.18).
2 Samuel 6:2 he is worshiped there: Or "the chest belongs to him."
2 Samuel 6:4 Ahio. . . Ahio: Or "his brother. . . his brother."
2 Samuel 6:8 Bursting. . . Uzzah: Or "Perez-Uzzah."
2 Samuel 6:10 Gath: Or perhaps, "Gittaim."
2 Samuel 6:14 only a linen cloth: The Hebrew word is "ephod," which can mean either a piece of clothing like a skirt that went from the waist to the knee or a garment like a vest or a jacket that only the priests wore.
2 Samuel 6:17 sacrificing. . . altar: The Hebrew mentions two kinds of sacrifices. In one kind of sacrifice, the whole animal was burned on the altar. In the other kind, only part was burned, and the worshipers ate the rest, as in verse 19 (see Leviticus 1.2-17; 3.1-17).


John 13:31-14:14 (Contemporary English Version)

The New Command

31After Judas had gone, Jesus said:

Now the Son of Man will be given glory, and he will bring glory to God. 32Then, after God is given glory because of him, God will bring glory to him, and God will do it very soon.

33My children, I will be with you for a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won't find me. I tell you just as I told the people, "You cannot go where I am going." 34But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. 35If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.

Peter's Promise
(Matthew 26.31-35; Mark 14.27-31; Luke 22.31-34)

36Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?"

Jesus answered, "You can't go with me now, but later on you will."

37Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I go with you now? I would die for you!"

38"Would you really die for me?" Jesus asked. "I tell you for certain that before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't even know me."

John 14

Jesus Is the Way to the Father

1Jesus said to his disciples, "Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. a] 2There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. 3After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. 4You know the way to where I am going." 5Thomas said, "Lord, we don't even know where you are going! How can we know the way?"

6"I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father. 7If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him."

8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need."

9Jesus replied:

Philip, I have been with you for a long time. Don't you know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How can you ask me to show you the Father? 10Don't you believe that I am one with the Father and that the Father is one with me? What I say isn't said on my own. The Father who lives in me does these things.

11Have faith in me when I say that the Father is one with me and that I am one with the Father. Or else have faith in me simply because of the things I do. 12I tell you for certain that if you have faith in me, you will do the same things that I am doing. You will do even greater things, now that I am going back to the Father. 13Ask me, and I will do whatever you ask. This way the Son will bring honor to the Father. 14I will do whatever you ask me to do.

Footnotes:
John 14:1 Have faith in God and have faith in me: Or " You have faith in God, so have faith in me."


Psalm 119:17-32 (Contemporary English Version)

17Treat me with kindness, LORD,
so that I may live
and do what you say.

18Open my mind
and let me discover
the wonders of your Law.

19I live here as a stranger.

Don't keep me from knowing
your commands.

20What I want most of all
and at all times
is to honor your laws.

21You punish those boastful,
worthless nobodies
who turn
from your commands.

22Don't let them sneer
and insult me
for following you.

23I keep thinking about
your teachings, LORD,
even if rulers plot
against me.

24Your laws are my greatest joy!

I follow their advice.

25I am at the point of death.

Let your teachings
breathe new life into me.

26When I told you my troubles,
you answered my prayers.

Now teach me your laws.

27Help me to understand
your teachings,
and I will think about
your marvelous deeds.

28I am overcome with sorrow.
Encourage me,
as you have promised to do.

29Keep me from being deceitful,
and be kind enough
to teach me your Law.

30I am determined to be faithful
and to respect your laws.

31I follow your rules, LORD.

Don't let me be ashamed.

32I am eager to learn all
that you want me to do;
help me to understand
more and more.

Proverbs 15:31-32 (Contemporary English Version)

31Healthy correction is good,
and if you accept it,
you will be wise.

32You hurt only yourself
by rejecting instruction,
but it makes good sense
to accept it.

Bible Readings for May 23, 2011

Today our passages are 2 Samuel 2:12–3:39; John 13:1-30; Psalm 119:1-16; and Proverbs 15:29-30. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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2 Samuel 2:12-3:39 (Contemporary English Version)


The War between David and Ishbosheth

12One day, Abner and the soldiers of Ishbosheth [a] left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. 13Meanwhile, Joab the son of Zeruiah [b] was leading David's soldiers, and the two groups met at the pool in Gibeon. [c] Abner and his men sat down on one side of the pool, while Joab and his men sat on the other side. 14Abner yelled to Joab, "Let's have some of our best soldiers get up and fight each other!" Joab agreed, 15and twelve of Ishbosheth's men from the tribe of Benjamin got up to fight twelve of David's men. 16They grabbed each other by the hair and stabbed each other in the side with their daggers. They all died right there! That's why the place in Gibeon is called "Field of Daggers." [d] 17Then everyone started fighting. Both sides fought very hard, but David's soldiers defeated Abner and the soldiers of Israel. 18Zeruiah's three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel could run as fast as a deer in an open field, 19and he ran straight after Abner, without looking to the right or to the left.

20When Abner turned and saw him, he said, "Is that you, Asahel?"

Asahel answered, "Yes it is."

21Abner said, "There are soldiers all around. Stop chasing me and fight one of them! Kill him and take his clothes and weapons for yourself."

But Asahel refused to stop.

22Abner said, "If you don't turn back, I'll have to kill you! Then I could never face your brother Joab again."

23But Asahel would not turn back, so Abner struck him in the stomach with the back end of his spear. The spear went all the way through and came out of his back. Asahel fell down and died. Everyone who saw Asahel lying dead just stopped and stood still. 24But Joab and Abishai went after Abner. Finally, about sunset, they came to the hill of Ammah, not far from Giah on the road to Gibeon Desert. 25Abner brought the men of Benjamin together in one group on top of a hill, and they got ready to fight.

26Abner shouted to Joab, "Aren't we ever going to stop killing each other? Don't you know that the longer we keep on doing this, the worse it's going to be when it's all over? When are you going to order your men to stop chasing their own relatives?"

27Joab shouted back, "I swear by the living God, if you hadn't spoken, my men would have chased their relatives all night!" 28Joab took his trumpet and blew the signal for his soldiers to stop chasing the soldiers of Israel. Right away, the fighting stopped.

29Abner and his troops marched through the Jordan River valley all that night. Then they crossed the river and marched all morning [e] until they arrived back at Mahanaim. 30As soon as Joab stopped chasing Abner, he got David's troops together and counted them. There were nineteen missing besides Asahel. 31But David's soldiers had killed 360 of Abner's men from the tribe of Benjamin. 32Joab and his troops carried Asahel's body to Bethlehem and buried him in the family burial place. Then they marched all night and reached Hebron before sunrise.

2 Samuel 3

1This battle was the beginning of a long war between the followers of Saul and the followers of David. Saul's power grew weaker, but David's grew stronger.

David's Sons Born in Hebron
(1 Chronicles 3.1-4)

2-5Several of David's sons were born while he was living in Hebron. His oldest son was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel. David's second son was Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, who had been married to Nabal from Carmel. Absalom was the third. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai 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, another one of David's wives.

Abner Decides To Help David

6As the war went on between the families of David and Saul, Abner was gaining more power than ever in Saul's family. 7He had even slept with a wife [f] of Saul by the name of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah. But Saul's son Ishbosheth [g] told Abner, "You shouldn't have slept with one of my father's wives!" 8Abner was very angry at what Ishbosheth had said, and he told Ishbosheth:

Am I some kind of worthless dog from Judah? I've always been loyal to your father's family and to his relatives and friends. I haven't turned you over to David. And yet you talk to me as if I've committed a crime with this woman.

9I ask God to punish me if I don't help David get what the LORD promised him! 10God said that he wouldn't let anyone in Saul's family ever be king again and that David would be king instead. He also said that David would rule both Israel and Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. [h] 11Ishbosheth was so afraid of Abner that he could not even answer.

12Abner sent some of his men to David with this message: "You should be the ruler of the whole nation. [i] If you make an agreement with me, I will persuade everyone in Israel to make you their king." 13David sent this message back: "Good! I'll make an agreement with you. But before I will even talk with you about it, you must get Saul's daughter Michal back for me."

14David sent a few of his officials to Ishbosheth to give him this message: "Give me back my wife Michal! I killed a hundred Philistines so I could marry her." [j] 15Ishbosheth sent some of his men to take Michal away from her new husband, Paltiel the son of Laish. 16Paltiel followed Michal and the men all the way to Bahurim, crying as he walked. But he went back home after Abner ordered him to leave.

17Abner talked with the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them, "You've wanted to make David your king for a long time now. 18So do it! After all, God said he would use his servant David to rescue his people Israel from their enemies, especially from the Philistines."

19Finally, Abner talked with the tribe of Benjamin. Then he left for Hebron to tell David everything that the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of the people of Israel wanted to do. 20Abner took twenty soldiers with him, and when they got to Hebron, David gave a big feast for them.

21After the feast, Abner said, "Your Majesty, let me leave now and bring Israel here to make an agreement with you. You'll be king of the whole nation, just as you've been wanting."

David told Abner he could leave, and he left without causing any trouble.

Joab Kills Abner

22Soon after Abner had left Hebron, Joab and some of David's soldiers came back, bringing a lot of things they had taken from an enemy village. 23Right after they arrived, someone told Joab, "Abner visited the king, and the king let him go. Abner even left without causing any trouble."

24Joab went to David and said, "What have you done? Abner came to you, and you let him go. Now he's long gone! 25You know Abner--he came to trick you. He wants to find out how strong your army is and to know everything you're doing."

26Joab left David, then he sent some messengers to catch up with Abner. They brought him back from the well at Sirah, [k] but David did not know anything about it. 27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pretended he wanted to talk privately with him. So he took Abner into one of the small rooms that were part of the town gate and stabbed him in the stomach. Joab killed him because Abner had killed Joab's brother Asahel.

Abner's Funeral

28David heard how Joab had killed Abner, and he said, "I swear to the LORD that I am completely innocent of Abner's death! 29Joab and his family are the guilty ones. I pray that Joab's family will always be sick with sores and other skin diseases. May they all be cowards, [l] and may they die in war or starve to death." 30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.

31David told Joab and everyone with him, "Show your sorrow by tearing your clothes and wearing sackcloth! [m] Walk in front of Abner's body and cry!" David walked behind the stretcher on which Abner's body was being carried. 32Abner was buried in Hebron, while David and everyone else stood at the tomb and cried loudly. 33Then the king sang a funeral song about Abner:

Abner, why should you
have died like an outlaw? [n]
34No one tied your hands
or chained your feet,
yet you died as a victim
of murderers.

Everyone started crying again. 35Then they brought some food to David and told him he would feel better if he had something to eat. It was still daytime, and David said, "I swear to God that I'll not take a bite of bread or anything else until sunset!"

36Everyone noticed what David did, and they liked it, just as they always liked what he did. 37Now the people of Judah and Israel were certain that David had nothing to do with killing Abner.

38David said to his officials, "Don't you realize that today one of Israel's great leaders has died? 39I am the chosen king, but Joab and Abishai have more power than I do. So God will have to pay them back [o] for the evil thing they did."

Footnotes:
2 Samuel 2:12 Ishbosheth: See the note at 2.8.
2 Samuel 2:13 the son of Zeruiah: Zeruiah was David's older sister, so Joab was David's nephew (see 1 Chronicles 2.12-17 and the note at 2 Samuel 17.25).
2 Samuel 2:13 pool in Gibeon: This pool was located just inside the city wall and was used for storing water. It was in the shape of a circle and was 36 feet wide and 36 feet deep.
2 Samuel 2:16 Field of Daggers: Or "Field of Opponents" or "Battlefield."
2 Samuel 2:29 all morning: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
2 Samuel 3:7 wife: This translates a Hebrew word for a woman who was legally bound to a man, but without the full privileges of a wife.
2 Samuel 3:7 Ishbosheth: See the note at 2.8.
2 Samuel 3:10 from. . . south: Hebrew "from Dan to Beersheba." This was one way of describing all of the Israelite land, from north to south.
2 Samuel 3:12 You. . . nation: Or "I like you."
2 Samuel 3:14 I killed. . . marry her: See 1 Samuel 18.20-27.
2 Samuel 3:26 well at Sirah: Or "oasis of Sirah" or "cistern at Sirah."
2 Samuel 3:29 cowards: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
2 Samuel 3:31 sackcloth: Sackcloth was a rough, dark-colored cloth made from goat or camel hair and was used to make grain sacks. People wore sackcloth or tore their clothes in times of trouble or sorrow.
2 Samuel 3:33 outlaw: Or "fool."
2 Samuel 3:39 God. . . back: Or "I pray that God will pay them back."


John 13:1-30 (Contemporary English Version)

John 13

Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples

1It was before Passover, and Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and to return to the Father. He had always loved his followers in this world, and he loved them to the very end.

2Even before the evening meal started, the devil had made Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, [a] decide to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. 4So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples' feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing.

6But when he came to Simon Peter, that disciple asked, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7Jesus answered, "You don't really know what I am doing, but later you will understand."

8"You will never wash my feet!" Peter replied.

"If I don't wash you," Jesus told him, "you don't really belong to me."

9Peter said, "Lord, don't wash just my feet. Wash my hands and my head."

10Jesus answered, "People who have bathed and are clean all over need to wash just their feet. And you, my disciples, are clean, except for one of you." 11Jesus knew who would betray him. That is why he said, "except for one of you."

12After Jesus had washed his disciples' feet and had put his outer garment back on, he sat down again. [b] Then he said: Do you understand what I have done? 13You call me your teacher and Lord, and you should, because that is who I am. 14And if your Lord and teacher has washed your feet, you should do the same for each other. 15I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you. 16I tell you for certain that servants are not greater than their master, and messengers are not greater than the one who sent them. 17You know these things, and God will bless you, if you do them.

18I am not talking about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But what the Scriptures say must come true. And they say, "The man who ate with me has turned against me!" 19I am telling you this before it all happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe who I am. [c] 20I tell you for certain that anyone who welcomes my messengers also welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

Jesus Tells What Will Happen to Him
(Matthew 26.20-25; Mark 14.17-21; Luke 22.21-23)

21After Jesus had said these things, he was deeply troubled and told his disciples, "I tell you for certain that one of you will betray me." 22They were confused about what he meant. And they just stared at each other.

23Jesus' favorite disciple was sitting next to him at the meal, 24and Simon motioned for that disciple to find out which one Jesus meant. 25So the disciple leaned toward Jesus and asked, "Lord, which one of us are you talking about?"

26Jesus answered, "I will dip this piece of bread in the sauce and give it to the one I was talking about."

Then Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. [d] 27Right then Satan took control of Judas. Jesus said, "Judas, go quickly and do what you have to do." 28No one at the meal understood what Jesus meant. 29But because Judas was in charge of the money, some of them thought that Jesus had told him to buy something they needed for the festival. Others thought that Jesus had told him to give some money to the poor. 30Judas took the piece of bread and went out.

It was already night.

Footnotes:
John 13:2 Iscariot: See the note at 6.71.
John 13:12 sat down again: On special occasions the Jewish people followed the Greek and Roman custom of lying down on their left side and leaning on their left elbow, while eating with their right hand.
John 13:19 I am: See the note at 8.24.
John 13:26 Iscariot: See the note at 6.71.


Psalm 119:1-16 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 119

In Praise of the Law of the LORD

1Our LORD, you bless everyone
who lives right
and obeys your Law.

2You bless all of those
who follow your commands
from deep in their hearts
3and who never do wrong
or turn from you.

4You have ordered us always
to obey your teachings;
5I don't ever want to stray
from your laws.

6Thinking about your commands
will keep me from doing
some foolish thing.

7I will do right and praise you
by learning to respect
your perfect laws.

8I will obey all of them!

Don't turn your back on me.

9Young people can live
a clean life
by obeying your word.

10I worship you
with all my heart.

Don't let me walk away
from your commands.

11I treasure your word
above all else;
it keeps me from sinning
against you.

12I praise you, LORD!

Teach me your laws.

13With my own mouth,
I tell others the laws
that you have spoken.

14Obeying your instructions
brings as much happiness
as being rich.

15I will study your teachings
and follow your footsteps.

16I will take pleasure
in your laws
and remember your words.


Proverbs 15:29-30 (Contemporary English Version)

29The LORD never even hears
the prayers of the wicked,
but he answers the prayers
of all who obey him.

30A friendly smile
makes you happy,
and good news
makes you feel strong.

Bible Readings for May 22, 2011

Today our passages are 2 Samuel 1:1–2:11; John 12:20-50; Psalm 118:19-29; and Proverbs 15:27-28. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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2 Samuel 1-2:11 (Contemporary English Version)

2 Samuel 1

David Finds Out about Saul's Death

1Saul was dead.

Meanwhile, David had defeated the Amalekites and returned to Ziklag. 2Three days later, a soldier came from Saul's army. His clothes were torn, and dirt was on his head. [a] He went to David and knelt down in front of him. 3David asked, "Where did you come from?"

The man answered, "From Israel's army. I barely escaped with my life."

4"Who won the battle?" David asked.

The man said, "Our army turned and ran, but many were wounded and died. Even King Saul and his son Jonathan are dead."

5David asked, "How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?"

6The young man replied:

I was on Mount Gilboa and saw King Saul leaning on his spear. The enemy's war chariots and cavalry were closing in on him. 7When he turned around and saw me, he called me over. I went and asked what he wanted.

8Saul asked me, "Who are you?"

"An Amalekite," I answered.

9Then he said, "Kill me! I'm dying, and I'm in terrible pain." [b] 10So I killed him. I knew he was too badly wounded to live much longer. Then I took his crown and his arm-band, and I brought them to you, Your Majesty. Here they are.

11Right away, David and his soldiers tore their clothes in sorrow. 12They cried all day long and would not eat anything. Everyone was sad because Saul, his son Jonathan, and many of the LORD's people had been killed in the battle.

13David asked the young man, "Where is your home?"

The man replied, "My father is an Amalekite, but we live in Israel."

14-16David said to him, "Why weren't you afraid to kill the LORD's chosen king? And you even told what you did. It's your own fault that you're going to die!"

Then David told one of his soldiers, "Come here and kill this man!"

David Sings in Memory of Saul

17David sang a song in memory of Saul and Jonathan, 18and he ordered his men to teach the song to everyone in Judah. He called it "The Song of the Bow," and it can be found in The Book of Jashar. [c] This is the song: 19Israel, your famous hero

lies dead on the hills,
and your mighty warriors
have fallen!

20Don't tell it in Gath
or spread the news
on the streets of Ashkelon.

The godless Philistine women
will be happy
and jump for joy.

21Don't let dew or rain fall
on the hills of Gilboa.

Don't let its fields
grow offerings for God.

There the warriors' shields
were smeared with mud,
and Saul's own shield
was left unpolished. [d]

22The arrows of Jonathan struck,
and warriors died.

The sword of Saul cut
the enemy apart.

23It was easy to love Saul
and Jonathan.

Together in life,
together in death,
they were faster than eagles
and stronger than lions.

24Women of Israel, cry for Saul.

He brought you fine red cloth
and jewelry made of gold.

25Our warriors have fallen
in the heat of battle,
and Jonathan lies dead
on the hills of Gilboa.

26Jonathan, I miss you most!

I loved you
like a brother.

You were truly loyal to me,
more faithful than a wife
to her husband. [e]

27Our warriors have fallen,
and their weapons [f] are destroyed.

2 Samuel 2

David Becomes King of Judah

1Later, David asked the LORD, "Should I go back to one of the towns of Judah?"

The LORD answered, "Yes."

David asked, "Which town should I go to?"

"Go to Hebron," the LORD replied.

2David went to Hebron with his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail. Ahinoam was from Jezreel, and Abigail was the widow of Nabal from Carmel. 3David also had his men and their families come and live in the villages near Hebron.

4The people of Judah met with David at Hebron and poured olive oil on his head to show that he was their new king. Then they told David, "The people from Jabesh in Gilead buried Saul."

5David sent messengers to tell them:

The LORD bless you! You were kind enough to bury Saul your ruler, 6and I pray that the LORD will be kind and faithful to you. I will be your friend because of what you have done. 7Saul is dead, but the tribe of Judah has made me their king. So be strong and have courage.

Ishbosheth Becomes King of Israel

8Abner the son of Ner [g] had been the general of Saul's army. He took Saul's son Ishbosheth [h] across the Jordan River to Mahanaim 9and made him king of Israel, [i] including the areas of Gilead, Asher, [j] Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin. 10Ishbosheth was forty years old at the time, and he ruled for two years. But the tribe of Judah made David their king, 11and he ruled from Hebron for seven and a half years.

Footnotes:
2 Samuel 1:2 His clothes. . . his head: People tore their clothes and put dirt on their heads to show they were sad because someone had died.
2 Samuel 1:9 in terrible pain: Or "very weak."
2 Samuel 1:18 The Book of Jashar: This book may have been a collection of ancient war songs.
2 Samuel 1:21 unpolished: Some shields were made of leather and were polished with olive oil.
2 Samuel 1:26 You. . . husband: Or "You loved me more than a wife could possibly love her husband."
2 Samuel 1:27 weapons: This may refer to Saul and Jonathan.
2 Samuel 2:8 son of Ner: Abner was Saul's cousin (see 1 Samuel 14.50).
2 Samuel 2:8 Ishbosheth: One ancient translation has "Ishbaal" (see also 1 Chronicles 8.33). In Hebrew "baal" means "lord" and was used as the name of a Canaanite god. The people of Israel often changed "baal" to "bosheth" (which means "shame") in personal names. Ishbosheth was probably called Ishvi or Ishyo in 1 Samuel 14.49.
2 Samuel 2:9 Israel: Sometimes "Israel" means the northern tribes and does not include the tribes of Judah and Simeon. That is how it is used in this verse.
2 Samuel 2:9 Asher: The Hebrew text has "Ashur," which is the Hebrew name for the Assyrians. It may be another spelling for Asher (one of the tribes of Israel) or it may refer to Geshur (a small area between Gilead and Jezreel, east of Lake Galilee).


John 12:20-50 (Contemporary English Version)

Some Greeks Want To Meet Jesus

20Some Greeks [a] had gone to Jerusalem to worship during Passover. 21Philip from Bethsaida in Galilee was there too. So they went to him and said, "Sir, we would like to meet Jesus." 22Philip told Andrew. Then the two of them went to Jesus and told him.

The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up

23Jesus said:

The time has come for the Son of Man to be given his glory. [b] 24I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. 25If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. 26If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you. 27Now I am deeply troubled, and I don't know what to say. But I must not ask my Father to keep me from this time of suffering. In fact, I came into the world to suffer. 28So Father, bring glory to yourself.

A voice from heaven then said, "I have already brought glory to myself, and I will do it again!" 29When the crowd heard the voice, some of them thought it was thunder. Others thought an angel had spoken to Jesus.

30Then Jesus told the crowd, "That voice spoke to help you, not me. 31This world's people are now being judged, and the ruler of this world [c] is already being thrown out! 32If I am lifted up above the earth, I will make everyone want to come to me." 33Jesus was talking about the way he would be put to death. 34The crowd said to Jesus, "The Scriptures teach that the Messiah will live forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"

35Jesus answered, "The light will be with you for only a little longer. Walk in the light while you can. Then you won't be caught walking blindly in the dark. 36Have faith in the light while it is with you, and you will be children of the light."

After Jesus had said these things, he left and went into hiding.

The People Refuse To Have Faith in Jesus

37He had worked a lot of miracles [d] among the people, but they were still not willing to have faith in him. 38This happened so that what the prophet Isaiah had said would come true, "Lord, who has believed
our message?

And who has seen
your mighty strength?"

39The people could not have faith in Jesus, because Isaiah had also said,

40"The Lord has blinded
the eyes of the people,
and he has made
the people stubborn.

He did this so that they
could not see
or understand,
and so that they
would not turn to the Lord
and be healed."

41Isaiah said this, because he saw the glory of Jesus and spoke about him. [e] 42Even then, many of the leaders put their faith in Jesus, but they did not tell anyone about it. The Pharisees had already given orders for the people not to have anything to do with anyone who had faith in Jesus. 43And besides, the leaders liked praise from others more than they liked praise from God.

Jesus Came To Save the World

44In a loud voice Jesus said:

Everyone who has faith in me also has faith in the one who sent me. 45And everyone who has seen me has seen the one who sent me. 46I am the light that has come into the world. No one who has faith in me will stay in the dark.

47I am not the one who will judge those who refuse to obey my teachings. I came to save the people of this world, not to be their judge. 48But everyone who rejects me and my teachings will be judged on the last day [f] by what I have said. 49I don't speak on my own. I say only what the Father who sent me has told me to say. 50I know that his commands will bring eternal life. That is why I tell you exactly what the Father has told me.

Footnotes:
John 12:20 Greeks: Perhaps Gentiles who worshiped with the Jews. See the note at 7.35.
John 12:23 be given his glory: See the note at 7.39.
John 12:31 world: In the Gospel of John " world" sometimes refers to the people who live in this world and to the evil forces that control their lives.
John 12:37 miracles: See the note at 2.11.
John 12:41 he saw the glory of Jesus and spoke about him: Or " he saw the glory of God and spoke about Jesus."
John 12:48 the last day: See the note at 6.39.


Psalm 118:19-29 (Contemporary English Version)

19Open the gates of justice!

I will enter and tell the LORD
how thankful I am.

20Here is the gate of the LORD!

Everyone who does right
may enter this gate.

21I praise the LORD
for answering my prayers
and saving me.

22The stone that the builders
tossed aside
has now become
the most important stone.

23The LORD has done this,
and it is amazing to us.

24This day belongs to the LORD!

Let's celebrate
and be glad today.

25We'll ask the LORD to save us!

We'll sincerely ask the LORD
to let us win.

26God bless the one who comes
in the name of the LORD!

We praise you from here
in the house of the LORD.

27The LORD is our God,
and he has given us light!

Start the celebration!

March with palm branches
all the way to the altar. [a]

28The LORD is my God!

I will praise him and tell him
how thankful I am.

29Tell the LORD
how thankful you are,
because he is kind
and always merciful.

Footnotes:
Psalm 118:27 Start. . . altar: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.


Proverbs 15:27-28 (Contemporary English Version)

27Being greedy causes trouble
for your family,
but you protect yourself
by refusing bribes.

28Good people think
before they answer,
but the wicked speak evil
without ever thinking.

Bible Readings for May 21, 2011

Today our passages are 1 Samuel 29:1–31:13; John 11:54– 12:1; Psalm 118:1-18; and Proverbs 15:24-26. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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1 Samuel 29-31:13 (Contemporary English Version)

1 Samuel 29

The Philistines Send David Back

1The Philistines had brought their whole army to Aphek, a] while Israel's army was camping near Jezreel Spring. 2-3The Philistine rulers and their troops were marching past the Philistine army commanders in groups of a hundred and a thousand. When David and his men marched by at the end with Achish, the commanders said, "What are these worthless Israelites doing here?" "They are David's men," Achish answered. "David used to be one of Saul's officers, but he left Saul and joined my army a long time ago. I've never had even one complaint about him."

4The Philistine army commanders were angry and shouted:

Send David back to the town you gave him. We won't have him going into the battle with us. He could turn and fight against us! Saul would take David back as an officer if David brought him the heads of our soldiers. 5The Israelites even dance and sing,

"Saul has killed
a thousand enemies;
David has killed
ten thousand enemies!"

6Achish called David over and said:

I swear by the living LORD that you've been honest with me, and I want you to fight by my side. I don't think you've done anything wrong from the day you joined me until this very moment. But the other Philistine rulers don't want you to come along. 7Go on back home and try not to upset them.

8"But what have I done?" David asked. "Do you know of anything I've ever done that would keep me from fighting the enemies of my king?" b] 9Achish said:

I believe that you're as good as an angel of God, but our army commanders have decided that you can't fight in this battle. 10You and your troops will have to go back to the town I gave you. c] Get up and leave tomorrow morning as soon as it's light. I am pleased with you, so don't let any of this bother you. d] 11David and his men got up early in the morning and headed back toward Philistia, while the Philistines left for Jezreel.

1 Samuel 30

David Rescues His Soldiers' Families

1It took David and his men three days to reach Ziklag. But while they had been away, the Amalekites had been raiding in the desert around there. They had attacked Ziklag, burned it to the ground, 2and had taken away the women and children. 3When David and his men came to Ziklag, they saw the burned-out ruins and learned that their families had been taken captive. 4They started crying and kept it up until they were too weak to cry any more. 5David's two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, had been taken captive with everyone else.

6David was desperate. His soldiers were so upset over what had happened to their sons and daughters that they were thinking about stoning David to death. But he felt the LORD God giving him strength, 7and he said to the priest, "Abiathar, let's ask God what to do."

Abiathar brought everything he needed to get answers from God, and he went over to David. 8Then David asked the LORD, "Should I go after the people who raided our town? Can I catch up with them?"

"Go after them," the LORD answered. "You will catch up with them, and you will rescue your families."

9-10David led his six hundred men to Besor Gorge, but two hundred of them were too tired to go across. So they stayed behind, while David and the other four hundred men crossed the gorge.

11Some of David's men found an Egyptian out in a field and took him to David. They gave the Egyptian some bread, and he ate it. Then they gave him a drink of water, 12some dried figs, and two handfuls of raisins. This was the first time in three days he had tasted food or water. Now he felt much better.

13"Who is your master?" David asked. "And where do you come from?"

"I'm from Egypt," the young man answered. "I'm the servant of an Amalekite, but he left me here three days ago because I was sick. 14We had attacked some towns in the desert where the Cherethites live, in the area that belongs to Judah, and in the desert where the Caleb clan lives. And we burned down Ziklag."

15"Will you take me to those Amalekites?" David asked.

"Yes, I will, if you promise with God as a witness that you won't kill me or hand me over to my master."

16He led David to the Amalekites. They were eating and drinking everywhere, celebrating because of what they had taken from Philistia and Judah. 17David attacked just before sunrise the next day and fought until sunset. e] Four hundred Amalekites rode away on camels, but they were the only ones who escaped. 18David rescued his two wives and everyone else the Amalekites had taken from Ziklag. 19No one was missing--young or old, sons or daughters. David brought back everything that had been stolen, 20including their livestock.

David also took the sheep and cattle that the Amalekites had with them, but he kept these separate from the others. Everyone agreed that these would be David's reward.

21On the way back, David went to the two hundred men he had left at Besor Gorge, because they had been too tired to keep up with him. They came toward David and the people who were with him. When David was close enough, he greeted the two hundred men and asked how they were doing.

22Some of David's men were good-for-nothings, and they said, "Those men didn't go with us to the battle, so they don't get any of the things we took back from the Amalekites. Let them take their wives and children and go!"

23But David said:

My friends, don't be so greedy with what the LORD has given us! The LORD protected us and gave us victory over the people who attacked. 24Who would pay attention to you, anyway? Soldiers who stay behind to guard the camp get as much as those who go into battle.

25David made this a law for Israel, and it has been the same ever since.

26David went back to Ziklag with everything they had taken from the Amalekites. He sent some of these things as gifts to his friends who were leaders of Judah, and he told them, "We took these things from the LORD's enemies. Please accept them as a gift."

27-31This is a list of the towns where David sent gifts: Bethel, f] Ramoth in the Southern Desert, Jattir, Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, Racal, the towns belonging to the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites, Hormah, Bor-Ashan, Athach, and Hebron. He also sent gifts to the other towns where he and his men had traveled.

1 Samuel 31

Saul and His Sons Die

1Meanwhile, the Philistines were fighting Israel at Mount Gilboa. Israel's soldiers ran from the Philistines, and many of them were killed. 2The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. 3The fighting was fierce around Saul, and he was badly wounded by enemy arrows.

4Saul told the soldier who carried his weapons, "Kill me with your sword! I don't want those worthless Philistines to torture me and make fun." But the soldier was afraid to kill him.

Saul then took out his own sword; he stuck the blade into his stomach, and fell on it. 5When the soldier knew that Saul was dead, he killed himself in the same way.

6Saul was dead, his three sons were dead, and the soldier who carried his weapons was dead. They and all his soldiers died on that same day. 7The Israelites on the other side of Jezreel Valley g] and the other side of the Jordan learned that Saul and his sons were dead. They saw that the Israelite army had run away. So they ran away too, and the Philistines moved into the towns the Israelites had left behind. 8The day after the battle, when the Philistines returned to the battlefield to take the weapons of the dead Israelite soldiers, they found Saul and his three sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. 9-10The Philistines cut off Saul's head and pulled off his armor. Then they put his armor in the temple of the goddess Astarte, and they nailed his body to the city wall of Beth-Shan. They also sent messengers everywhere in Philistia to spread the good news in the temples of their idols and among their people.

11The people who lived in Jabesh in Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul's body. 12So one night, some brave men from Jabesh went to Beth-Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons, then brought them back to Jabesh and burned them. 13They buried the bones under a small tree in Jabesh, and for seven days, they went without eating to show their sorrow.

Footnotes:
1 Samuel 29:1 Aphek: The events of chapter 29 probably took place as the Philistine army was on its way to Shunem, which they reached in 28.4.
1 Samuel 29:8 my king: David may be referring to either Saul or Achish.
1 Samuel 29:10 go. . . you: One ancient translation; these words are not in the Hebrew text.
1 Samuel 29:10 I am. . . bother you: One ancient translation; these words are not in the Hebrew text.
1 Samuel 30:17 just. . . sunset: Or "at dusk, and fought until sunset on the next day."
1 Samuel 30:27 Bethel: Or "Bethuel" (see Joshua 19.4).
1 Samuel 31:7 Jezreel Valley: Hebrew "valley." Shunem (see 28.4) and Gilboa (see verse 1) were across the Jezreel Valley from each other.


John 11:54-12:1 (Contemporary English Version)

54Because of this plot against him, Jesus stopped going around in public. He went to the town of Ephraim, which was near the desert, and he stayed there with his disciples.

55It was almost time for Passover. Many of the Jewish people who lived out in the country had come to Jerusalem to get themselves ready a] for the festival. 56They looked around for Jesus. Then when they were in the temple, they asked each other, "You don't think he will come here for Passover, do you?" 57The chief priests and the Pharisees told the people to let them know if any of them saw Jesus. That is how they hoped to arrest him.

John 12

At Bethany
(Matthew 26.6-13; Mark 14.3-9)

1Six days before Passover Jesus went back to Bethany, where he had raised Lazarus from death.

Footnotes:
John 11:55 get themselves ready: The Jewish people had to do certain things to prepare themselves to worship God.


Psalm 118:1-18 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 118

The LORD Is Always Merciful

1Tell the LORD
how thankful you are,
because he is kind
and always merciful.

2Let Israel shout,
"God is always merciful!"

3Let the family of Aaron
the priest shout,
"God is always merciful!"

4Let every true worshiper
of the LORD shout,
"God is always merciful!"

5When I was really hurting,
I prayed to the LORD.

He answered my prayer,
and took my worries away.

6The LORD is on my side,
and I am not afraid
of what others can do to me.

7With the LORD on my side,
I will defeat all
of my hateful enemies.

8It is better to trust the LORD
for protection
than to trust anyone else,
9including strong leaders.

10Nations surrounded me,
but I got rid of them
by the power of the LORD.

11They attacked from all sides,
but I got rid of them
by the power of the LORD.

12They swarmed around like bees,
but by the power of the LORD,
I got rid of them
and their fiery sting.

13Their attacks were so fierce
that I nearly fell,
but the LORD helped me.

14My power and my strength
come from the LORD,
and he has saved me.

15From the tents of God's people
come shouts of victory:
"The LORD is powerful!

16With his mighty arm
the LORD wins victories!

The LORD is powerful!"

17And so my life is safe,
and I will live to tell
what the LORD has done.

18He punished me terribly,
but he did not let death
lay its hands on me.


Proverbs 15:24-26 (Contemporary English Version)

24All who are wise follow a road
that leads upward to life
and away from death.

25The LORD destroys the homes
of those who are proud,
but he protects the property
of widows.

26The LORD hates evil thoughts,
but kind words please him.

Bible Readings for May 20, 2011

Today our passages are 1 Samuel 26:1–28:25; John 11:1-53; Psalm 117:1-2; and Proverbs 15:22-23. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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1 Samuel 26-28:25 (Contemporary English Version)

1 Samuel 26

David Again Lets Saul Live

1Once again, [a] some people from Ziph went to Gibeah to talk with Saul. "David has a hideout on Mount Hachilah near Jeshimon out in the desert," they told him. 2Saul took three thousand of Israel's best soldiers and went to look for David there in Ziph Desert. 3Saul set up camp on Mount Hachilah, which is across the road from Jeshimon. But David was hiding out in the desert.

When David heard that Saul was following him, 4he sent some spies to find out if it was true. 5Then he sneaked up to Saul's camp. He noticed that Saul and his army commander Abner the son of Ner were sleeping in the middle of the camp, with soldiers sleeping all around them. 6David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Joab's brother Abishai, [b] "Which one of you will go with me into Saul's camp?" "I will!" Abishai answered.

7That same night, David and Abishai crept into the camp. Saul was sleeping, and his spear was stuck in the ground not far from his head. Abner and the soldiers were sound asleep all around him.

8Abishai whispered, "This time God has let you get your hands on your enemy! I'll pin him to the ground with one thrust of his own spear."

9"Don't kill him!" David whispered back. "The LORD will punish anyone who kills his chosen king. 10As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD will kill Saul, or Saul will die a natural death or be killed in battle. 11But I pray that the LORD will keep me from harming his chosen king. Let's grab his spear and his water jar and get out of here!"

12David took the spear and the water jar, then left the camp. None of Saul's soldiers knew what had happened or even woke up--the LORD had made all of them fall sound asleep. 13David and Abishai crossed the valley and went to the top of the next hill, where they were at a safe distance. 14"Abner!" David shouted toward Saul's army. "Can you hear me?"

Abner shouted back. "Who dares disturb the king?"

15"Abner, what kind of a man are you?" David replied. "Aren't you supposed to be the best soldier in Israel? Then why didn't you protect your king? Anyone who went into your camp could have killed him tonight. [c] 16You're a complete failure! I swear by the living LORD that you and your men deserve to die for not protecting the LORD's chosen king. Look and see if you can find the king's spear and the water jar that were near his head." 17Saul could tell it was David's voice, and he called out, "David, my son! Is that you?"

"Yes it is, Your Majesty. 18Why are you after me? Have I done something wrong, or have I committed a crime? 19Please listen to what I have to say. If the LORD has turned you against me, maybe a sacrifice will make him change his mind. But if some people have turned you against me, I hope the LORD will punish them! They have forced me to leave the land that belongs to the LORD and have told me to worship foreign gods. [d] 20Don't let me die in a land far away from the LORD. I'm no more important than a flea! Why should the king of Israel hunt me down as if I were a bird in the mountains?" 21"David, you had the chance to kill me today. But you didn't. I was very wrong about you. It was a terrible mistake for me to try to kill you. I've acted like a fool, but I'll never try to harm you again. You're like a son to me, so please come back."

22"Your Majesty, here's your spear! Have one of your soldiers come and get it. 23The LORD put you in my power today, but you are his chosen king and I wouldn't harm you. The LORD rewards people who are faithful and live right. 24I saved your life today, and I pray that the LORD will protect me and keep me safe."

25"David, my son, I pray that the Lord will bless you and make you successful!"

Saul went back home. David also left,

1 Samuel 27

David in Philistia

1but he thought to himself, "One of these days, Saul is going to kill me. The only way to escape from him is to go to Philistia. Then I'll be outside of Israel, and Saul will give up trying to catch me."

2-3David and his six hundred men went across the border to stay in Gath with King Achish the son of Maoch. His men brought their families with them. David brought his wife Ahinoam whose hometown was Jezreel, and he also brought his wife Abigail who had been married to Nabal from Carmel. 4When Saul found out that David had run off to Gath, he stopped trying to catch him.

5One day, David was talking with Achish and said, "If you are happy with me, then let me live in one of the towns in the countryside. I'm not important enough to live here with you in the royal city."

6Achish gave David the town of Ziklag that same day, and Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since.

7David was in Philistia for a year and four months. 8The Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites lived in the area from Telam to Shur [e] and on as far as Egypt, and David often attacked their towns. 9Whenever David and his men attacked a town, they took the sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and the clothing, and killed everyone who lived there. After he returned from a raid, David always went to see Achish, 10who would ask, "Where did you attack today?" [f] David would answer, "Oh, we attacked some desert town that belonged to the Judah tribe." Sometimes David would say, "Oh, we attacked a town in the desert where the Jerahmeel clan lives" or "We attacked a town in the desert where the Kenites [g] live." 11That's why David killed everyone in the towns he attacked. He thought, "If I let any of them live, they might come to Gath and tell what I've really been doing." David made these raids all the time he was in Philistia. 12But Achish trusted David and thought, "David's people must be furious with him. From now on he will have to take orders from me."

1 Samuel 28

Saul Talks with Samuel's Ghost

1-3Samuel had died some time earlier, [h] and people from all over Israel had attended his funeral in his hometown of Ramah. Meanwhile, Saul had been trying to get rid of everyone who spoke with the spirits of the dead. [i] But one day the Philistines brought their soldiers together to attack Israel. Achish told David, "Of course, you know that you and your men must fight as part of our Philistine army."

David answered, "That will give you a chance to see for yourself just how well we can fight!"

"In that case," Achish said, "you and your men will always be my bodyguards."

4The Philistines went to Shunem and set up camp. Saul called the army of Israel together, and they set up their camp in Gilboa. 5Saul took one look at the Philistine army and started shaking with fear. 6So he asked the LORD what to do. But the LORD would not answer, either in a dream or by a priest or a prophet. 7Then Saul told his officers, "Find me a woman who can talk to the spirits of the dead. I'll go to her and find out what's going to happen."

His servants told him, "There's a woman at Endor who can talk to spirits of the dead."

8That night, Saul put on different clothing so nobody would recognize him. Then he and two of his men went to the woman, and asked, "Will you bring up the ghost of someone for us?"

9The woman said, "Why are you trying to trick me and get me killed? You know King Saul has gotten rid of everyone who talks to the spirits of the dead!"

10Saul replied, "I swear by the living LORD that nothing will happen to you because of this."

11"Who do you want me to bring up?" she asked.

"Bring up the ghost of Samuel," he answered.

12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed. Then she turned to Saul and said, "You've tricked me! You're the king!"

13"Don't be afraid," Saul replied. "Just tell me what you see."

She answered, "I see a spirit rising up out of the ground."

14"What does it look like?"

"It looks like an old man wearing a robe."

Saul knew it was Samuel, so he bowed down low.

15"Why are you bothering me by bringing me up like this?" Samuel asked.

"I'm terribly worried," Saul answered. "The Philistines are about to attack me. God has turned his back on me and won't answer any more by prophets or by dreams. What should I do?"

16Samuel said:

If the LORD has turned away from you and is now your enemy, don't ask me what to do. 17I've already told you: The LORD has sworn to take the kingdom from you and give it to David. And that's just what he's doing! 18When the LORD was angry with the Amalekites, he told you to destroy them, but you didn't do it. That's why the LORD is doing this to you. 19Tomorrow the LORD will let the Philistines defeat Israel's army, then you and your sons will join me down here in the world of the dead.

20At once, Saul collapsed and lay stretched out on the floor, terrified at what Samuel had said. He was weak because he had not eaten anything since the day before.

21The woman came over to Saul, and when she saw that he was completely terrified, she said, "Your Majesty, I listened to you and risked my life to do what you asked. 22Now please listen to me. Let me get you a little something to eat. It will give you strength for your walk back to camp."

23"No, I won't eat!"

But his officers and the woman kept on urging Saul, until he finally agreed. He got up off the floor and sat on the bed. 24Right away the woman killed a calf that she had been fattening up. She cooked part of the meat and baked some thin bread. [j] 25Then she served the food to Saul and his officers, who ate and left before daylight.

Footnotes:
1 Samuel 26:1 again: See 23.19.
1 Samuel 26:6 Abishai: Hebrew "Abishai the son of Zeruiah." Zeruiah was David's older sister, so Abishai and Joab were David's nephews (see 1 Chronicles 2.12-17; 2 Samuel 17.25 and the note there).
1 Samuel 26:15 Anyone. . . tonight: Or "Someone went into your camp to kill him tonight."
1 Samuel 26:19 gods: In ancient times it was often believed that gods (even the God of Israel) could only be properly worshiped in their own countries, and only a country's gods should be worshiped in that country.
1 Samuel 27:8 lived. . . Shur: One ancient translation; Hebrew "had lived for a long time in Shur."
1 Samuel 27:10 Where. . . today: A few Hebrew manuscripts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and three ancient translations; most Hebrew manuscripts "Didn't you make a raid today?"
1 Samuel 27:10 Jerahmeel. . . Kenites: These were clans of the Judah tribe.
1 Samuel 28:1 earlier: See 25.1.
1 Samuel 28:1 dead: Many people believed that it was possible to talk to spirits of the dead, and that these spirits could tell the future.
1 Samuel 28:24 thin bread: Bread made without yeast, since there was no time for the bread to rise.


John 11:1-53 (Contemporary English Version)

John 11

The Death of Lazarus

1-2A man by the name of Lazarus was sick in the village of Bethany. He had two sisters, Mary and Martha. This was the same Mary who later poured perfume on the Lord's head and wiped his feet with her hair. 3The sisters sent a message to the Lord and told him that his good friend Lazarus was sick.

4When Jesus heard this, he said, "His sickness won't end in death. It will bring glory to God and his Son."

5Jesus loved Martha and her sister and brother. 6But he stayed where he was for two more days. 7Then he said to his disciples, "Now we will go back to Judea."

8"Teacher," they said, "the people there want to stone you to death! Why do you want to go back?"

9Jesus answered, "Aren't there twelve hours in each day? If you walk during the day, you will have light from the sun, and you won't stumble. 10But if you walk during the night, you will stumble, because you don't have any light." 11Then he told them, "Our friend Lazarus is asleep, and I am going there to wake him up."

12They replied, "Lord, if he is asleep, he will get better." 13Jesus really meant that Lazarus was dead, but they thought he was talking only about sleep.

14Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead! 15I am glad that I wasn't there, because now you will have a chance to put your faith in me. Let's go to him."

16Thomas, whose nickname was "Twin," said to the other disciples, "Come on. Let's go, so we can die with him."

Jesus Brings Lazarus to Life

17When Jesus got to Bethany, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Bethany was only about two miles from Jerusalem, 19and many people had come from the city to comfort Martha and Mary because their brother had died.

20When Martha heard that Jesus had arrived, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house. 21Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22Yet even now I know that God will do anything you ask."

23Jesus told her, "Your brother will live again!"

24Martha answered, "I know that he will be raised to life on the last day, [a] when all the dead are raised." 25Jesus then said, "I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. 26And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die. Do you believe this?"

27"Yes, Lord!" she replied. "I believe that you are Christ, the Son of God. You are the one we hoped would come into the world."

28After Martha said this, she went and privately said to her sister Mary, "The Teacher is here, and he wants to see you." 29As soon as Mary heard this, she got up and went out to Jesus. 30He was still outside the village where Martha had gone to meet him. 31Many people had come to comfort Mary, and when they saw her quickly leave the house, they thought she was going out to the tomb to cry. So they followed her.

32Mary went to where Jesus was. Then as soon as she saw him, she knelt at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

33When Jesus saw that Mary and the people with her were crying, he was terribly upset 34and asked, "Where have you put his body?"

They replied, "Lord, come and you will see."

35Jesus started crying, 36and the people said, "See how much he loved Lazarus."

37Some of them said, "He gives sight to the blind. Why couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying?"

38Jesus was still terribly upset. So he went to the tomb, which was a cave with a stone rolled against the entrance. 39Then he told the people to roll the stone away. But Martha said, "Lord, you know that Lazarus has been dead four days, and there will be a bad smell."

40Jesus replied, "Didn't I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?"

41After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, "Father, I thank you for answering my prayer. 42I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so that the people here would believe that you sent me."

43When Jesus had finished praying, he shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The man who had been dead came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with strips of burial cloth, and a cloth covered his face.

Jesus then told the people, "Untie him and let him go."

The Plot To Kill Jesus
(Matthew 26.1-5; Mark 14.1,2; Luke 22.1,2)

45Many of the people who had come to visit Mary saw the things that Jesus did, and they put their faith in him. 46Others went to the Pharisees and told what Jesus had done. 47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called the council together and said, "What should we do? This man is working a lot of miracles. [b] 48If we don't stop him now, everyone will put their faith in him. Then the Romans will come and destroy our temple and our nation." [c] 49One of the council members was Caiaphas, who was also high priest that year. He spoke up and said, "You people don't have any sense at all! 50Don't you know it is better for one person to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed?" 51Caiaphas did not say this on his own. As high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation. 52Yet Jesus would not die just for the Jewish nation. He would die to bring together all of God's scattered people. 53From that day on, the council started making plans to put Jesus to death.

Footnotes:
John 11:24 the last day: When God will judge all people.
John 11:47 miracles: See the note at 2.11.
John 11:48 destroy our temple and our nation: The Jewish leaders were afraid that Jesus would lead his followers to rebel against Rome and that the Roman army would then destroy their nation.


Psalm 117:1-2 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 117
Come Praise the LORD

1All of you nations,
come praise the LORD!

Let everyone praise him.

2His love for us is wonderful;
his faithfulness never ends.

Shout praises to the LORD!


Proverbs 15:22-23 (Contemporary English Version)

22Without good advice
everything goes wrong--
it takes careful planning
for things to go right.

23Giving the right answer
at the right time
makes everyone happy.

Bible Readings for May 19, 2011

Today our passages are 1 Samuel 24:1–25:44; John 10:22-42; Psalm 116:1-19; and Proverbs 15:20-21. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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1 Samuel 24-25:44 (Contemporary English Version)

1 Samuel 24


David Lets Saul Live

1When Saul got back from fighting off the Philistines, he heard that David was in the desert around En-Gedi. 2Saul led three thousand of Israel's best soldiers out to look for David and his men near Wild Goat Rocks at En-Gedi. 3There were some sheep pens along the side of the road, and one of them was built around the entrance to a cave. Saul went into the cave to relieve himself.

David and his men were hiding at the back of the cave. 4They whispered to David, "The LORD told you he was going to let you defeat your enemies and do whatever you want with them. This must be the day the LORD was talking about."

David sneaked over and cut off a small piece [a] of Saul's robe, but Saul didn't notice a thing. 5Afterwards, David was sorry that he had even done that, 6-7and he told his men, "Stop talking foolishly. We're not going to attack Saul. He's my king, and I pray that the LORD will keep me from doing anything to harm his chosen king." Saul left the cave and started down the road. 8Soon, David also got up and left the cave. "Your Majesty!" he shouted from a distance.

Saul turned around to look. David bowed down very low 9and said:

Your Majesty, why do you listen to people who say that I'm trying to harm you? 10You can see for yourself that the LORD gave me the chance to catch you in the cave today. Some of my men wanted to kill you, but I wouldn't let them do it. I told them, "I will not harm the LORD's chosen king!" 11Your Majesty, look at what I'm holding. You can see that it's a piece of your robe. If I could cut off a piece of your robe, I could have killed you. But I let you live, and that should prove I'm not trying to harm you or to rebel. I haven't done anything to you, and yet you keep trying to ambush and kill me.

12I'll let the LORD decide which one of us has done right. I pray that the LORD will punish you for what you're doing to me, but I won't do anything to you. 13An old proverb says, "Only evil people do evil things," and so I won't harm you.

14Why should the king of Israel be out chasing me, anyway? I'm as worthless as a dead dog or a flea. 15I pray that the LORD will help me escape and show that I am in the right.

16"David, my son--is that you?" Saul asked. Then he started crying 17and said:

David, you're a better person than I am. You treated me with kindness, even though I've been cruel to you. 18You've told me how you were kind enough not to kill me when the LORD gave you the chance. 19If you really were my enemy, you wouldn't have let me leave here alive. I pray that the LORD will give you a big reward for what you did today.

20I realize now that you will be the next king, and a powerful king at that. 21Promise me with the LORD as your witness, that you won't wipe out my descendants. Let them live to keep my family name alive.

22So David promised, and Saul went home. David and his men returned to their hideout.

1 Samuel 25


Samuel Dies

1Samuel died, and people from all over Israel gathered to mourn for him when he was buried at his home [b] in Ramah. Meanwhile, David moved his camp to Paran Desert. [c]

Abigail Keeps David from Killing Innocent People

2-3Nabal was a very rich man who lived in Maon. He owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats, which he kept at Carmel. [d] His wife Abigail was sensible and beautiful, but he was from the Caleb clan [e] and was rough and mean. 4One day, Nabal was in Carmel, having his servants cut the wool from his sheep. David was in the desert when he heard about it. 5-6So he sent ten men to Carmel with this message for Nabal:

I hope that you and your family are healthy and that all is going well for you. 7I've heard that you are cutting the wool from your sheep.

When your shepherds were with us in Carmel, we didn't harm them, and nothing was ever stolen from them. 8Ask your shepherds, and they'll tell you the same thing.

My servants are your servants, and you are like a father to me. This is a day for celebrating, [f] so please be kind and share some of your food with us. 9David's men went to Nabal and gave him David's message, then they waited for Nabal's answer.

10This is what he said:

Who does this David think he is? That son of Jesse is just one more slave on the run from his master, and there are too many of them these days. 11What makes you think I would take my bread, my water, and the meat that I've had cooked for my own servants [g] and give it to you? Besides, I'm not sure that David sent you! [h] 12The men returned to their camp and told David everything Nabal had said.

13"Everybody get your swords!" David ordered.

They all strapped on their swords. Two hundred men stayed behind to guard the camp, but the other four hundred followed David.

14-16Meanwhile, one of Nabal's servants told Abigail:

David's men were often nearby while we were taking care of the sheep in the fields. They were very good to us, they never hurt us, and nothing was ever stolen from us while they were nearby. With them around day or night, we were as safe as we would have been inside a walled city.

David sent some messengers from the desert to wish our master well, but he shouted insults at them. 17He's a bully who won't listen to anyone.

Isn't there something you can do? Please think of something! Or else our master and his family and everyone who works for him are all doomed.

18Abigail quickly got together two hundred loaves of bread, two large clay jars of wine, the meat from five sheep, a large sack of roasted grain, a hundred handfuls of raisins, and two hundred handfuls of dried figs. She loaded all the food on donkeys 19and told her servants, "Take this on ahead, and I'll catch up with you." She didn't tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.

20Abigail was riding her donkey on the path that led around the hillside, when suddenly she met David and his men heading straight at her.

21David had just been saying, "I surely wasted my time guarding Nabal's things in the desert and keeping them from being stolen! I was good to him, and now he pays me back with insults. 22I swear that by morning, there won't be a man or boy left from his family or his servants' families. I pray that God will punish me [i] if I don't do it!" 23Abigail quickly got off her donkey and bowed down in front of David. 24Then she said:

Sir, please let me explain! 25Don't pay any attention to that good-for-nothing Nabal. His name means "fool," and it really fits him!

I didn't see the men you sent, 26-27but please take this gift of food that I've brought and share it with your followers. The LORD has kept you from taking revenge and from killing innocent people. But I hope your enemies and anyone else who wants to harm you will end up like Nabal. I swear this by the living LORD and by your life.

28Please forgive me if I say a little more. The LORD will always protect you and your family, because you fight for him. I pray that you won't ever do anything evil as long as you live. 29The LORD your God will keep you safe when your enemies try to kill you. But he will snatch away their lives quicker than you can throw a rock from a sling.

30The LORD has promised to do many good things for you, even to make you the ruler of Israel. The LORD will keep his promises to you, 31and now your conscience will be clear, because you won't be guilty of taking revenge and killing innocent people.

When the LORD does all those good things for you, please remember me.

32David told her:

I praise the LORD God of Israel! He must have sent you to meet me today. 33And you should also be praised. Your good sense kept me from taking revenge and killing innocent people. 34If you hadn't come to meet me so quickly, every man and boy in Nabal's family and in his servants' families would have been killed by morning. I swear by the living LORD God of Israel who protected you that this is the truth.

35David accepted the food Abigail had brought. "Don't worry," he said. "You can go home now. I'll do what you asked."

36Abigail went back home and found Nabal throwing a party fit for a king. He was very drunk and feeling good, so she didn't tell him anything that night. 37But when he sobered up the next morning, Abigail told him everything that had happened. Nabal had a heart attack, and he lay in bed as still as a stone. 38Ten days later, the LORD took his life.

39-40David heard that Nabal had died. "I praise the LORD!" David said. "He has judged Nabal guilty for insulting me. The LORD kept me from doing anything wrong, and he made sure that Nabal hurt only himself with his own evil."

Abigail was still at Carmel. So David sent messengers to ask her if she would marry him.

David and Abigail Are Married

41She bowed down and said, "I would willingly be David's slave and wash his servants' feet."
42Abigail quickly got ready and went back with David's messengers. She rode on her donkey, while five of her servant women walked alongside. She and David were married as soon as she arrived.

43David had earlier married Ahinoam from the town of Jezreel, so both she and Abigail were now David's wives. [j] 44Meanwhile, Saul had arranged for Michal [k] to marry Palti the son of Laish, who came from the town of Gallim.

Footnotes:
1 Samuel 24:4 small piece: Hebrew "corner" or "lower hem."
1 Samuel 25:1 at his home: Hebrew "in his house." Family tombs were sometimes underneath the house or in the courtyard of the home.
1 Samuel 25:1 Paran Desert: Hebrew; some manuscripts of one ancient translation "Maon Desert."
1 Samuel 25:2 Carmel: About one mile north of Maon in the Southern Desert of Judah.
1 Samuel 25:2 from the Caleb clan: Or "behaved like a dog."
1 Samuel 25:8 celebrating: Cutting the wool from the sheep was a time for celebrating as well as for working.
1 Samuel 25:11 servants: Hebrew "shearers," the servants who cut the wool from the sheep.
1 Samuel 25:11 I'm not sure. . . sent you: Or "I don't know where you come from."
1 Samuel 25:22 me: One ancient translation; Hebrew "my enemies."
1 Samuel 25:43 wives: Having more than one wife was allowed in those times.
1 Samuel 25:44 Michal: David's first wife (see 18.20--19.17).


John 10:22-42 (Contemporary English Version)


Jesus Is Rejected

22That winter, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Temple Festival. 23One day he was walking in that part of the temple known as Solomon's Porch, [a] 24and the people gathered all around him. They said, "How long are you going to keep us guessing? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly!" 25Jesus answered:

I have told you, and you refused to believe me. The things I do by my Father's authority show who I am. 26But since you are not my sheep, you don't believe me. 27My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, 28and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father gave them to me, and he is greater than all others. [b] No one can snatch them from his hands, 30and I am one with the Father. 31Once again the Jewish leaders picked up stones in order to kill Jesus. 32But he said, "I have shown you many good things that my Father sent me to do. Which one are you going to stone me for?"

33They answered, "We are not stoning you because of any good thing you did. We are stoning you because you did a terrible thing. You are just a man, and here you are claiming to be God!"

34Jesus replied:

In your Scriptures doesn't God say, "You are gods"? 35You can't argue with the Scriptures, and God spoke to those people and called them gods. 36So why do you accuse me of a terrible sin for saying that I am the Son of God? After all, it is the Father who prepared me for this work. He is also the one who sent me into the world. 37If I don't do as my Father does, you should not believe me. 38But if I do what my Father does, you should believe because of that, even if you don't have faith in me. Then you will know for certain that the Father is one with me, and I am one with the Father.

39Again they wanted to arrest Jesus. But he escaped 40and crossed the Jordan to the place where John had earlier been baptizing. While Jesus was there, 41many people came to him. They were saying, "John didn't work any miracles, but everything he said about Jesus is true." 42A lot of those people also put their faith in Jesus.

Footnotes:
John 10:23 Solomon's Porch: A public place with tall columns along the east side of the temple.
John 10:29 he is greater than all others: Some manuscripts have " they are greater than all others."


Psalm 116:1-19 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 116


When the LORD Saves You from Death

1I love you, LORD!

You answered my prayers.

2You paid attention to me,
and so I will pray to you
as long as I live.

3Death attacked from all sides,
and I was captured
by its painful chains.

But when I was really hurting,
4I prayed and said,
"LORD,
please don't let me die!"

5You are kind, LORD,
so good and merciful.

6You protect ordinary people,
and when I was helpless,
you saved me
7and treated me so kindly
that I don't need
to worry anymore.

8You, LORD, have saved
my life from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.

9Now I will walk at your side
in this land of the living.

10I was faithful to you
when I was suffering,
11though in my confusion I said,
"I can't trust anyone!"

12What must I give you, LORD,
for being so good to me?

13I will pour out an offering
of wine to you,
and I will pray in your name
because you
have saved me.

14I will keep my promise to you
when your people meet.

15You are deeply concerned
when one of your loyal people
faces death.

16I worship you, LORD,
just as my mother did,
and you have rescued me
from the chains of death.

17I will offer you a sacrifice
to show how grateful I am,
and I will pray.

18I will keep my promise to you
when your people
19gather
at your temple
in Jerusalem.

Shout praises to the LORD!


Proverbs 15:20-21 (Contemporary English Version)

20Children with good sense
make their parents happy,
but foolish children
are hateful to them.

21Stupidity brings happiness
to senseless fools,
but everyone with good sense
follows the straight path.

Bible Readings for May 18, 2011

Today our passages are 1 Samuel 22:1–23:29; John 10:1-21; Psalm 115:1-18; and Proverbs 15:18-19. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version.

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1 Samuel 22-23:29 (Contemporary English Version)

1 Samuel 22

People Join David

1When David escaped from the town of Gath, he went to Adullam Cave. His brothers and the rest of his family found out where he was, and they followed him there. 2A lot of other people joined him too. Some were in trouble, others were angry or in debt, and David was soon the leader of four hundred men.

3David left Adullam Cave and went to the town of Mizpeh in Moab, where he talked with the king of Moab. "Please," David said, "let my father and mother stay with you until I find out what God will do with me." 4So he brought his parents to the king of Moab, and they stayed with him while David was in hiding.

5One day the prophet Gad told David, "Don't stay here! Go back to Judah." David then left and went to Hereth Forest.

Saul Kills the Priests of the LORD

6Saul was sitting under a small tree on top of the hill at Gibeah when he heard that David and his men had been seen. Saul was holding his spear, and his officers were standing in front of him. 7He told them:

Listen to me! You belong to the Benjamin tribe, a] so if that son of Jesse ever becomes king, he won't give you fields or vineyards. He won't make you officers in charge of thousands or hundreds as I have done. 8But you're all plotting against me! Not one of you told me that my own son Jonathan had made an agreement with him. Not one of you cared enough to tell me that Jonathan had helped one of my officers b] rebel. Now that son of Jesse is trying to ambush me. 9Doeg the Edomite was standing with the other officers and spoke up, "When I was in the town of Nob, I saw that son of Jesse. He was visiting the priest Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10Ahimelech talked to the LORD for him, then gave him food and the sword that had belonged to Goliath the Philistine."

11Saul sent a message to Ahimelech and his whole family of priests at Nob, ordering them to come to him. When they came, 12Saul told them, "Listen to me, you son of Ahitub."

"Certainly, Your Majesty," Ahimelech answered.

13Saul demanded, "Why did you plot against me with that son of Jesse? You helped him rebel against me by giving him food and a sword, and by talking with God for him. Now he's trying to ambush me!"

14"Your Majesty, none of your officers is more loyal than David!" Ahimelech replied. "He's your son-in-law and the captain of your bodyguard. Everyone in your family respects him. 15This isn't the first time I've talked with God for David, and it's never made you angry before! Please don't accuse me or my family like this. I have no idea what's going on!"

16"Ahimelech," Saul said, "you and your whole family are going to die."

17Saul shouted to his bodyguards, "These priests of the LORD helped David! They knew he was running away, but they didn't tell me. Kill them!"

But the king's officers would not attack the priests of the LORD.

18Saul turned to Doeg, who was from Edom, and said, "Kill the priests!"

On that same day, Doeg killed eighty-five priests. 19Then he attacked the town of Nob, where the priests had lived, and he killed everyone there--men, women, children, and babies. He even killed their cattle, donkeys, and sheep.

Only Abiathar Escapes from Nob

20Ahimelech's son Abiathar was the only one who escaped. He ran to David 21and told him, "Saul has murdered the priests at Nob!"

22David answered, "That day when I saw Doeg, I knew he would tell Saul! Your family died because of me. 23Stay here. Isn't the same person trying to kill both of us? Don't worry! You'll be safe here with me."

1 Samuel 23

David Rescues the Town of Keilah

1One day some people told David, "The Philistines keep attacking the town of Keilah and stealing grain from the threshing place."

2David asked the LORD, "Should I attack these Philistines?"

"Yes," the LORD answered. "Attack them and rescue Keilah."

3But David's men said, "Look, even here in Judah we're afraid of the Philistines. We will be terrified if we try to fight them at Keilah!" c] 4David asked the LORD about it again. "Leave right now," the LORD answered. "I will give you victory over the Philistines at Keilah."

5David and his men went there and fiercely attacked the Philistines. They killed many of them, then led away their cattle, and rescued the people of Keilah.

6-8Meanwhile, Saul heard that David was in Keilah. "God has let me catch David," Saul said. "David is trapped inside a walled town where the gates can be locked." Saul decided to go there and surround the town, in order to trap David and his men. He sent messengers who told the towns and villages, "Send men to serve in Saul's army!"

By this time, Abiathar had joined David in Keilah and had brought along everything he needed to get answers from God.

9David heard about Saul's plan to capture him, and he told Abiathar, "Let's ask God what we should do."

10David prayed, "LORD God of Israel, I was told that Saul is planning to come here. What should I do? Suppose he threatens to destroy the town because of me. 11Would the leaders of Keilah turn me over to Saul? Or is he really coming? Please tell me, LORD."

"Yes, he will come," the LORD answered.

12David asked, "Would the leaders of Keilah hand me and my soldiers over to Saul?"

"Yes, they would," the LORD answered.

13David and his six hundred men got out of there fast and started moving from place to place. Saul heard that David had left Keilah, and he decided not to go after him.

Jonathan Says David Will Be King

14David stayed in hideouts in the hill country of Ziph Desert. Saul kept searching, but God never let Saul catch him.

15One time, David was at Horesh in Ziph Desert. He was afraid because d] Saul had come to the area to kill him. 16But Jonathan went to see David, and God helped him encourage David. 17"Don't be afraid," Jonathan said. "My father Saul will never get his hands on you. In fact, you're going to be the next king of Israel, and I'll be your highest official. Even my father knows it's true." 18They both promised the LORD that they would always be loyal to each other. Then Jonathan went home, but David stayed at Horesh.

David Escapes from Saul

19Some people from the town of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Your Majesty, David has a hideout not far from us! It's near Horesh, somewhere on Mount Hachilah south of Jeshimon. e] 20If you come, we will help you catch him." 21Saul told them:

You've done me a big favor, and I pray that the LORD will bless you. 22Now please do just a little more for me. Find out exactly where David is, as well as where he goes, and who has seen him there. I've been told that he's very tricky. 23Find out where all his hiding places are and come back when you're sure. Then I'll go with you. If he is still in the area, or anywhere among the clans of Judah, I'll find him.

24The people from Ziph went back ahead of Saul, and they found out that David and his men were still south of Jeshimon in the Maon Desert. 25Saul and his army set out to find David. But David heard that Saul was coming, and he went to a place called The Rock, one of his hideouts in Maon Desert.

Saul found out where David was and started closing in on him. 26Saul was going around a hill on one side, and David and his men were on the other side, trying to get away. Saul and his soldiers were just about to capture David and his men, 27when a messenger came to Saul and said, "Come quickly! The Philistines are attacking Israel and taking everything."

28Saul stopped going after David and went back to fight the Philistines. That's why the place is called "Escape Rock."

29David left and went to live in the hideouts at En-Gedi.

Footnotes:
1 Samuel 22:7 You. . . Benjamin tribe: David was from the Judah tribe and would have given special privileges to the people of his own tribe rather than to those of Benjamin.
1 Samuel 22:8 son of Jesse. . . officers: That is, David. Saul avoids even saying David's name.
1 Samuel 23:3 Keilah: Keilah was probably not controlled by Israelites at this time.
1 Samuel 23:15 He. . . because: Or "He saw that."
1 Samuel 23:19 Jeshimon: A place in the desert near the southern border of Judah.


John 10:1-21 (Contemporary English Version)

John 10

A Story about Sheep

1Jesus said:

I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd's voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.

4When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. 5The sheep will not follow strangers. They don't recognize a stranger's voice, and they run away.

6Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.

Jesus Is the Good Shepherd

7Jesus said:

I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. 8Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. 9I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.

10A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. 11I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep. 12Hired workers are not like the shepherd. They don't own the sheep, and when they see a wolf coming, they run off and leave the sheep. Then the wolf attacks and scatters the flock. 13Hired workers run away because they don't care about the sheep.

14I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. 15Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them together too, when they hear my voice. Then there will be one flock of sheep and one shepherd.

17The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so that I may receive it back again. 18No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do.

19The people took sides because of what Jesus had told them. 20Many of them said, "He has a demon in him! He is crazy! Why listen to him?"

21But others said, "How could anyone with a demon in him say these things? No one like that could give sight to a blind person!"


Psalm 115:1-18 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 115

The LORD Deserves To Be Praised

1We don't deserve praise!

The LORD alone deserves
all of the praise,
because of his love
and faithfulness.

2Why should the nations ask,

"Where is your God?"

3Our God is in the heavens,
doing as he chooses.

4The idols of the nations
are made of silver and gold.

5They have a mouth and eyes,
but they can't speak or see.

6Their ears can't hear,
and their noses can't smell.

7Their hands have no feeling,
their legs don't move,
and they can't make a sound.

8Everyone who made the idols
and all who trust them
are just as helpless
as those useless gods.

9People of Israel,
you must trust the LORD
to help and protect you.

10Family of Aaron the priest,
you must trust the LORD
to help and protect you.

11All of you worship the LORD,
so you must trust him
to help and protect you.

12The LORD will not forget
to give us his blessing;
he will bless all of Israel
and the family of Aaron.

13All who worship the LORD,
no matter who they are,
will receive his blessing.

14I pray that the LORD
will let your family
and your descendants
always grow strong.

15May the LORD who created
the heavens and the earth
give you his blessing.

16The LORD has kept the heavens
for himself,
but he has given the earth
to us humans.

17The dead are silent
and cannot praise the LORD,
18but we will praise him
now and forevermore.

Shout praises to the LORD!


Proverbs 15:18-19 (Contemporary English Version)

18Losing your temper
causes a lot of trouble,
but staying calm
settles arguments.

19Being lazy is like walking
in a thorn patch,
but everyone who does right
walks on a smooth road.