2 Samuel 9-10, 1 Chronicles 18-19, Psalm 89, Acts 26 - NASB Bible Online

2 Samuel 9-10

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

Then David said, “Is there yet ¹anyone left of the house of Saul, ^athat I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you ^aZiba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 The king said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the ^akindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “^bThere is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.” 4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is ^ain the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 6 ^aMephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and ^bfell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Here is your servant!” 7 David said to him, “Do not fear, for ^aI will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and ^bwill restore to you all the ¹land of your ²grandfather Saul; and ^cyou shall ³eat at my table regularly.” 8 Again he prostrated himself and said, “What is your servant, that you should regard ^aa dead dog like me?”
9 Then the king called Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “^aAll that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s ¹grandson. 10 You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food; nevertheless ^aMephibosheth your master’s grandson ^bshall ¹eat at my table regularly.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According ^ato all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at ¹David’s table as one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for ^ahe ate at the king’s table regularly. Now ^bhe was lame in both feet.

Ammon and Aram Defeated

^aNow it happened afterwards that ^bthe king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son became king in his place. 2 Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of ^aNahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent ¹some of his servants to console him concerning his father. But when David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites, 3 the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “¹Do you think that David is honoring your father because he has sent consolers to you? ^aHas David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and ^ashaved off half of their beards, and ^bcut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. 5 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “¹Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”
6 Now when the sons of Ammon saw that ^athey had become odious to David, the sons of Ammon sent and ^bhired the Arameans of ^cBeth-rehob and the ^dArameans of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of ^eMaacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob with 12,000 men. 7 When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men. 8 The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array ^aat the entrance of the ¹city, while the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of ^bTob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9 Now when Joab saw that ¹the battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel, and arrayed them against the Arameans. 10 But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the sons of Ammon. 11 He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come to help you. 12 ^aBe strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and ^bmay the Lord do what is good in His sight.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Arameans, and ^athey fled before him. 14 When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abishai and entered the city. ^aThen Joab returned from fighting against the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.
15 When the Arameans saw that they had been ¹defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 ^aAnd Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the ¹River, and they came to Helam; and ^bShobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer ²led them. 17 Now when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Arameans arrayed themselves to meet David and fought against him. 18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed ^a700 charioteers of the Arameans and 40,000 horsemen and struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there. 19 When all the kings, servants of Hadadezer, saw that they were ¹defeated by Israel, ^athey made peace with Israel and served them. So the Arameans feared to help the sons of Ammon anymore.

1 Chronicles 18-19

David’s Kingdom Strengthened

Now after this ^ait came about that David ¹defeated the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. 2 He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.
3 David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his ¹rule to the Euphrates River. 4 David took from him 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots.
5 When the Arameans of ¹Damascus came to help Hadadezer king ^aof Zobah, David ²killed 22,000 men of the Arameans. 6 Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of ¹Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the Lord helped David wherever he went. 7 David took the shields of gold which were ¹carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from ¹Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which ^aSolomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.
9 Now when ¹Tou king of Hamath heard that David had ²defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent ¹Hadoram his son to King David to ²greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had ³defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. And Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord with the silver and the gold which he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from Amalek.
12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah ¹defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David wherever he went.
14 So David reigned over all Israel; and he ¹administered justice and righteousness for all his people. 15 ^aJoab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary; 17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.

David’s Messengers Abused

^aNow it came about after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place. 2 Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him. 3 But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “¹Do you think that David is honoring your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. 5 Then certain persons went and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “¹Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”
6 When the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and ^afrom Zobah. 7 So they hired for themselves 32,000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before ^aMedeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle. 8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men. 9 The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

Ammon and Aram Defeated

10 Now when Joab saw that the ¹battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel and they arrayed themselves against the Arameans. 11 But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of ¹Abshai his brother; and they arrayed themselves against the sons of Ammon. 12 He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” 14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him. 15 When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abshai his brother and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
16 When the Arameans saw that they had been ¹defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the ²River, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer ³leading them. 17 When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came upon them and drew up in formation against them. And when David drew up in battle array against the Arameans, they fought against him. 18 The Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death Shophach the commander of the army. 19 So when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were ¹defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. Thus the Arameans were not willing to help the sons of Ammon anymore.

Psalm 89

The Lord’s Covenant with David, and Israel’s Afflictions.

A ¹Maskil of ²Ethan ³the Ezrahite.

I will ^asing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever;

To all generations I will ^bmake known Your ^cfaithfulness with my mouth.

For I have said, “^aLovingkindness will be built up forever;

In the heavens You will establish Your ^bfaithfulness.”

“I have made a covenant with ^aMy chosen;

I have ^bsworn to David My servant,

I will establish your ^aseed forever

And build up your ^bthrone to all generations.” ¹Selah.

The ^aheavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;

Your faithfulness also ^bin the assembly of the ^choly ones.

For ^awho in the skies is comparable to the Lord?

Who among the ¹^bsons of the mighty is like the Lord,

A God ^agreatly feared in the council of the ^bholy ones,

And ^cawesome above all those who are around Him?

O Lord God of hosts, ^awho is like You, O mighty ¹Lord?

Your faithfulness also surrounds You.

You rule the swelling of the sea;

When its waves rise, You ^astill them.

You Yourself crushed ¹^aRahab like one who is slain;

You ^bscattered Your enemies with ²Your mighty arm.

The ^aheavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;

The ^bworld and ¹all it contains, You have founded them.

The ^anorth and the south, You have created them;

^bTabor and ^cHermon ^dshout for joy at Your name.

You have ¹a strong arm;

Your hand is mighty, Your ^aright hand is exalted.

^aRighteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

^bLovingkindness and ¹truth go before You.

How blessed are the people who know the ¹^ajoyful sound!

O Lord, they walk in the ^blight of Your countenance.

In ^aYour name they rejoice all the day,

And by Your righteousness they are exalted.

For You are the glory of ^atheir strength,

And by Your favor ¹our ^bhorn is exalted.

For our ^ashield belongs to the Lord,

¹And our king to the ^bHoly One of Israel.

¹Once You spoke in vision to Your godly ²ones,

And said, “I have ³given help to one who is ^amighty;

I have exalted one ^bchosen from the people.

“I have ^afound David My servant;

With My holy ^boil I have anointed him,

With whom ^aMy hand will be established;

My arm also will ^bstrengthen him.

“The enemy will not ¹deceive him,

Nor the ²^ason of wickedness afflict him.

“But I shall ^acrush his adversaries before him,

And strike those who hate him.

“My ^afaithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him,

And in My name his ^bhorn will be exalted.

“I shall also set his hand ^aon the sea

And his right hand on the rivers.

“He will cry to Me, ‘You are ^amy Father,

My God, and the ^brock of my salvation.’

“I also shall make him My ^afirstborn,

The ^bhighest of the kings of the earth.

“My ^alovingkindness I will keep for him forever,

And My ^bcovenant shall be confirmed to him.

“So I will establish his ¹^adescendants forever

And his ^bthrone ^cas the days of heaven.

“If his sons ^aforsake My law

And do not walk in My judgments,

If they ¹violate My statutes

And do not keep My commandments,

Then I will punish their transgression with the ^arod

And their iniquity with stripes.

“But I will not break off ^aMy lovingkindness from him,

Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness.

“My ^acovenant I will not ¹violate,

Nor will I ^balter ²the utterance of My lips.

“¹Once I have ^asworn by My holiness;

I will not lie to David.

“His ¹^adescendants shall endure forever

And his ^bthrone ^cas the sun before Me.

“It shall be established forever ^alike the moon,

And the ^bwitness in the sky is faithful.” ¹Selah.

But You have ^acast off and ^brejected,

You have been full of wrath ¹against Your ^canointed.

You have ^aspurned the covenant of Your servant;

You have ^bprofaned ^chis crown ¹in the dust.

You have ^abroken down all his walls;

You have ^bbrought his strongholds to ruin.

^aAll who pass along the way plunder him;

He has become a ^breproach to his neighbors.

You have ^aexalted the right hand of his adversaries;

You have ^bmade all his enemies rejoice.

You also turn back the edge of his sword

And have ^anot made him stand in battle.

You have made his ¹^asplendor to cease

And cast his throne to the ground.

You have ^ashortened the days of his youth;

You have ^bcovered him with shame. Selah.

^aHow long, O Lord?

Will You hide Yourself forever?

Will Your ^bwrath burn like fire?

^aRemember ¹what my span of life is;

For what ^bvanity ²You have created all the sons of men!

What man can live and not ^asee death?

Can he ^bdeliver his soul from the ¹power of ²Sheol? Selah.

Where are Your former lovingkindnesses, O Lord,

Which You ^aswore to David in Your faithfulness?

Remember, O Lord, the ^areproach of Your servants;

¹How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,

With which ^aYour enemies have reproached, O Lord,

With which they have reproached the footsteps of ^bYour anointed.

^aBlessed be the Lord forever!

Amen and Amen.

Acts 26

Paul’s Defense before Agrippa

^aAgrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense:
2 “In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; 3 ¹especially because you are an expert in all ^acustoms and ²questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “So then, all Jews know ^amy manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a ^aPharisee ^baccording to the strictest ^csect of our religion. 6 And now I am ¹standing trial ^afor the hope of ^bthe promise made by God to our fathers; 7 the promise ^ato which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this ^bhope, O King, I am being ^caccused by Jews. 8 Why is it considered incredible among you people ^aif God does raise the dead?
9 “So then, ^aI thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to ^bthe name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And this is ¹just what I ^adid in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the ²saints in prisons, having ^breceived authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I ^ccast my vote against them. 11 And ^aas I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being ^bfuriously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them ^ceven to ¹foreign cities.
12 “¹While so engaged ^aas I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, ¹brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 And when we had ^aall fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the ¹^bHebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? ²It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and ^astand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to ^bappoint you a ^cminister and ^da witness not only to the things which you have ¹seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 ^arescuing you ^bfrom the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to ^aopen their eyes so that they may turn from ^bdarkness to light and from the dominion of ^cSatan to God, that they may receive ^dforgiveness of sins and an ^einheritance among those who have been sanctified by ^ffaith in Me.’
19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both ^ato those of Damascus first, and also ^bat Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even ^cto the Gentiles, that they should ^drepent and turn to God, performing deeds ^eappropriate to repentance. 21 For this reason some Jews ^aseized me in the temple and tried ^bto put me to death. 22 So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day ^atestifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what ^bthe Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; 23 ¹^athat ²the Christ was ³to suffer, and ¹that ^bby reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim ^clight both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
24 While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! ¹Your great ^alearning is ²driving you mad.” 25 But Paul *said, “I am not out of my mind, ^amost excellent Festus, but I utter words ¹of sober truth. 26 For the king ¹^aknows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a ²corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you ¹do.” 28 Agrippa replied to Paul, “¹In a short time you ²will persuade me to ³become a ^aChristian.” 29 And Paul said, “¹I would wish to God, that whether ²in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these ^achains.”
30 ^aThe king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, 31 and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, “^aThis man is not doing anything worthy of death or ¹imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been ^aset free if he had not ^bappealed to Caesar.”

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