Daily Reading for Thursday, January 18th, 2024

Reading 1, First Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7

¹ Saul let his son Jonathan and all his servants know of his intention to kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, held David in great affection;

² and Jonathan warned David, 'My father Saul is looking for a way to kill you, so be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding, stay out of sight.

³ I shall go out and keep my father company in the countryside where you will be, and shall talk to my father about you; I shall see what the situation is and then tell you.'

⁴ Jonathan spoke highly of David to Saul his father and said, 'The king should not harm his servant David; far from harming you, what he has done has been greatly to your advantage.

⁵ He took his life in his hands, he killed the Philistine, and Yahweh brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw for yourself. How pleased you were! Why then sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?'

⁶ Saul was impressed by Jonathan's words. Saul swore, 'As Yahweh lives, I will not kill him.'

⁷ Jonathan called David and told him all this. Jonathan then brought him to Saul, and David remained in attendance as before.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 56:2-3, 9-10, 10-12, 13-14

² Those who harry me lie in wait for me all day, countless are those who attack me from the heights.

³ When I am afraid, I put my trust in you,

⁹ Then my enemies will turn back on the day when I call. This I know, that God is on my side.

¹⁰ In God whose word I praise, in Yahweh whose word I praise,

¹¹ in God I put my trust and have no fear; what can mortal man do to me?

¹² I am bound by the vows I have made, God, I will pay you the debt of thanks,

¹³ for you have saved my life from death to walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.