Friday 17 January 2031

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?

3which we have heard and known,and our fathers have told us.4We will not hide them from their children,telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.

6that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born;who should arise and tell their children,7that they might set their hope in God,and not forget God’s deeds,but keep his commandments,

8and might not be as their fathers—a stubborn and rebellious generation,a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal,whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

1When he entered again into Capernaum after some days,it was heard that he was at home.2Immediately many were gathered together,so that there was no more room,not even around the door;and he spoke the word to them.3Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.4When they could not come near to him for the crowd,they removed the roof where he was.When they had broken it up,they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.5Jesus, seeing their faith,said to the paralytic,“Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

6But there were some of the scribes sitting thereand reasoning in their hearts,7“Why does this man speak blasphemies like that?Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8Immediately Jesus,perceiving in his spiritthat they so reasoned within themselves,said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?9Which is easier, to tell the paralytic,‘Your sins are forgiven;’or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk’?10But that you may knowthat the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—11“I tell you, arise,take up your mat, and go to your house.”

12He arose, and immediately took up the matand went out in front of them all,so that they were all amazed and glorified God,saying, “We never saw anything like this!”