Psalm 57

New International Version

Psalm 57^[a]^(A)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[b] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.^(B)

¹Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.^(C)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings^(D)
until the disaster has passed.^(E)

²I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.^(F)
³He sends from heaven and saves me,^(G)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—^[c]^(H)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.^(I)

⁴I am in the midst of lions;^(J)
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.^(K)

⁵Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.^(L)

⁶They spread a net for my feet^(M)—
I was bowed down^(N) in distress.
They dug a pit^(O) in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.^(P)

⁷My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;^(Q)
    I will sing and make music.
⁸Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!^(R)
    I will awaken the dawn.

⁹I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.^(S)

¹¹Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;^(T)
let your glory be over all the earth.^(U)

Footnotes

Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.

2 Samuel 15:13-31

New International Version

David Flees

¹³A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

¹⁴Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee,^(A) or none of us will escape from Absalom.^(B) We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”

¹⁵The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”

¹⁶The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines^(C) to take care of the palace. ¹⁷So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. ¹⁸All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites^(D) and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

¹⁹The king said to Ittai^(E) the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,^(F) an exile from your homeland. ²⁰You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander^(G) about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”^[a]^(H)

²¹But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”^(I)

²²David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

²³The whole countryside wept aloud^(J) as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,^(K) and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

²⁴Zadok^(L) was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark^(M) of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar^(N) offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

²⁵Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place^(O) again. ²⁶But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.^(P)”

²⁷The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?^(Q) Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.^(R) You and Abiathar return with your two sons. ²⁸I will wait at the fords^(S) in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

³⁰But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping^(T) as he went; his head^(U) was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. ³¹Now David had been told, “Ahithophel^(V) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

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Footnotes

2 Samuel 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew May kindness and faithfulness be with you

Ephesians 5:1-14

New International Version

5 ¹Follow God’s example,^(A) therefore, as dearly loved children^(B) ²and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^(C) and gave himself up for us^(D) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(E)

³But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,^(F) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,^(G) because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk^(H) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.^(I) ⁵For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater^(J)—has any inheritance^(K) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^[a]^(L) ⁶Let no one deceive you^(M) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath^(N) comes on those who are disobedient.^(O) ⁷Therefore do not be partners with them.

⁸For you were once^(P) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light^(Q) ⁹(for the fruit^(R) of the light consists in all goodness,^(S) righteousness and truth) ¹⁰and find out what pleases the Lord.^(T) ¹¹Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,^(U) but rather expose them. ¹²It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³But everything exposed by the light^(V) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴This is why it is said: