Monday 17 January 2022

1Now there was a man of Benjamin,whose name was Kish the son of Abiel,the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath,the son of Aphiah,the son of a Benjamite,a mighty man of valor.2He had a son whose name was Saul, an impressive young man;and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he.From his shouldersand upward he was taller than any of the people.

3The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost.Kish said to Saul his son,“Now take one of the servants with you,and arise, go look for the donkeys.”4He passed through the hill country of Ephraim,and passed through the land of Shalishah,but they didn’t find them.Then they passed through the land of Shaalim,and they weren’t there.Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites,but they didn’t find them.

· · · verses 5–16 are not read17When Samuel saw Saul,the Lord said to him,“Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you!He will have authority over my people.”

18Then Saul approached Samuel in the gateway,and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

19Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer.Go up before me to the high place,for you are to eat with me today.In the morning I will let you goand will tell you all that is in your heart.

· · · some verses are not read1Then Samuel took the vial of oiland poured it on his head,then kissed him and said,“Hasn’t the Lord anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?

8I don’t rebuke you for your sacrifices.Your burnt offerings are continually before me.9I have no need for a bull from your stall,nor male goats from your pens.

16But to the wicked God says,“What right do you have to declare my statutes,that you have taken my covenant on your lips,17since you hate instruction,and throw my words behind you?

21You have done these things, and I kept silent.You thought that I was just like you.I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.23Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me,and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”

18John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting,and they came and asked him,“Why do John’s disciplesand the disciples of the Pharisees fast,but your disciples don’t fast?”

19Jesus said to them,“Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them?As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t fast.20But the days will comewhen the bridegroom will be taken away from them,and then they will fast in that day.21No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment,or else the patch shrinksand the new tears away from the old,and a worse hole is made.22No one puts new wine into old wineskins;or else the new wine will burst the skins,and the wine pours out,and the skins will be destroyed;but they put new wine into fresh wineskins.”