 |
| The Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles. Russian, 14th century, Moscow Museum |
FIRST READING: 1 Samuel 24: 3 - 21
3
Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and
went out to seek after David, and his men, even upon the most craggy
rocks, which are accessible only to wild goats.
4
And he came to the sheepcotes, which were in his way. And there was a
cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature: now David and his men lay
hid in the inner part of the cave.
5
And the servants of David said to him: Behold the day, of which the
Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy unto thee, that thou
mayest do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes. Then David arose,
and secretly cut off the hem of Saul's robe.
6
After which David's heart struck him, because he had cut off the hem
of Saul's robe.
7
And he said to his men: The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may do
no such thing to my master the Lord's anointed, as to lay my hand
upon him, because he is the Lord's anointed.
8
And David stopped his men with his words, and suffered them not to
rise against Saul. But Saul rising up out of the cave, went on his
way.
9
And David also rose up after him: and going out of the cave cried
after Saul, saying: My lord the king. And Saul looked behind him: and
David bowing himself down to the ground, worshipped,
10
And said to Saul: Why dost thou hear the words of men that say David
seeketh thy hurt?
11
Behold this day thy eyes have seen, that the Lord hath delivered thee
into my hand, in the cave, and I had a thought to kill thee, but my
eye hath spared thee. For I said: I will not put out my hand against
my lord, because he is the Lord's anointed.
12
Moreover see and know, O my father, the hem of thy robe in my hand,
that when I cut, off the hem of thy robe, I would not put out my hand
against thee. Reflect, and see, that there is no evil in my hand, nor
iniquity, neither have I sinned against thee: but thou liest in wait
for my life, to take it away.
13
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord revenge me of thee:
but my hand shall not be upon thee.
14
As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall
wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon thee.
After whom dost thou come out, O king of Israel?
15
After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.
16
Be the Lord judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and judge
my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.
17
And when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, Saul
said: Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice,
and wept.
18
And he said to David: Thou art more just than I: for thou hast done
good to me, and I have rewarded thee with evil.
19
And thou hast shewn this day what good things thou hast done to me:
how the Lord delivered me into thy hand, and thou hast not killed me.
20
For who when he hath found his enemy, will let him go well away? But
the Lord reward thee for this good turn, for what thou hast done to
me this day.
21
And now as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and have the
kingdom of Israel in thy hand.
2
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me: for my soul trusteth in
thee. And in the shadow of thy wings will I hope, until iniquity pass
away.
3
I will cry to God the most High; to God who hath done good to me.
4
He hath sent from heaven and delivered me: he hath made them a
reproach that trod upon me. God hath sent his mercy and his truth,
6
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all
the earth.
11
For thy mercy is magnified even to the heavens: and thy truth unto
the clouds.
13
And going up into a mountain, he called unto him whom he would
himself: and they came to him.
14
And he made that twelve should be with him, and that he might send
them to preach.
15
And he gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.
16
And to Simon he gave the name Peter:
17
And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he
named them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
18
And Andrew and Philip, and Bartholomew and Matthew, and Thomas and
James of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Cananean:
19
And Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
