For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God! Have mercy on me! For in you I have taken shelter. In the shadow of your wings I take shelter until trouble passes.

“I, the Lord, also have something to say concerning the wicked nations who surround my land and have attacked and plundered the land that I gave to my people as a permanent possession. I say: ‘I will uproot the people of those nations from their lands and I will free the people of Judah who have been taken there.

So the Lord said, “I will wipe humankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth – everything from humankind to animals, including creatures that move on the ground and birds of the air, for I regret that I have made them.”

Let us acknowledge our shame. Let us bear the disgrace that we deserve. For we have sinned against the Lord our God, both we and our ancestors. From earliest times to this very day we have not obeyed the Lord our God.’

The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! What have you seen?” The woman replied to Saul, “I have seen one like a god coming up from the ground!”

for I really was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews and I have done nothing wrong here for which they should put me in a dungeon.”

“How long must I bear with this evil congregation that murmurs against me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites that they murmured against me.

Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you! Act like men and fight!”

If I had acted at risk of my own life – and nothing is hidden from the king! – you would have abandoned me.”

“Get up, go to Zarephath in Sidonian territory, and live there. I have already told a widow who lives there to provide for you.”

Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. In whom are you trusting that you would dare to rebel against me?

But God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor me, for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.’

The mandrakes send out their fragrance; over our door is every delicacy, both new and old, which I have stored up for you, my lover.

Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong when I deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it!

You will drain it dry, gnaw its pieces, and tear out your breasts, for I have spoken, declares the sovereign Lord.

We have not obeyed the LORD our God by living according to his laws that he set before us through his servants the prophets.

Very soon they will say, “We have no king since we did not fear the Lord. But what can a king do for us anyway?”

He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.”

So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.