Friday 13 January 2034

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves togetherand came to Samuel to Ramah.5They said to him, “Behold,you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways.Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said,“Give us a king to judge us.”

Samuel prayed to the Lord.7The Lord said to Samuel,“Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you;for they have not rejected you,but they have rejected me as the king over them.

· · · verses 8–9 are not read10Samuel told all the Lord’s words to the peoplewho asked him for a king.11He said, “This will be the way of the kingwho shall reign over you:he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants,for his chariots and to be his horsemen;and they will run before his chariots.12He will appoint them to him for captains of thousandsand captains of fifties;and he will assign some to plow his groundand to reap his harvest;and to make his instruments of warand the instruments of his chariots.13He will take your daughters to be perfumers,to be cooks, and to be bakers.14He will take your fields,your vineyards, and your olive groves,even your best, and give them to his servants.15He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards,and give it to his officers and to his servants.16He will take your male servants,your female servants,your best young men,and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.17He will take one tenth of your flocks;and you will be his servants.18You will cry out in that day because of your kingwhom you will have chosen for yourselves;and the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel;and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,20that we also may be like all the nations;and that our king may judge us,and go out before us,and fight our battles.”

21Samuel heard all the words of the people,and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.22The Lord said to Samuel,“Listen to their voice,and make them a king.”

Samuel said to the men of Israel,“Everyone go to your own city.”

16Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you.They walk in the light of your presence, Lord.17In your name they rejoice all day.In your righteousness, they are exalted.

18For you are the glory of their strength.In your favor, our horn will be exalted.19For our shield belongs to the Lord,our king to the Holy One of Israel.

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!”