Daily Reading for Monday, January 29th, 2024

Reading 1, Second Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13

¹³ A messenger came and told David, 'The men of Israel have shifted their allegiance to Absalom.'

¹⁴ David said to all his retinue then with him in Jerusalem, 'Up, let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom! Leave as quickly as you can, in case he mounts a sudden attack, overcomes us and puts the city to the sword.'

³⁰ David then made his way up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, his head covered and his feet bare. And all the people with him had their heads covered and made their way up, weeping as they went.

⁵ As David was reaching Bahurim, out came a man of the same clan as Saul's family. His name was Shimei son of Gera and, as he came, he uttered curse after curse

⁶ and threw stones at David and at all King David's retinue, even though the whole army and all the champions formed an escort round the king on either side.

⁷ The words of his curse were these, 'Off with you, off with you, man of blood, scoundrel!

⁸ Yahweh has paid you back for all the spilt blood of the House of Saul whose sovereignty you have usurped; and Yahweh has transferred the sovereign power to Absalom your son. Now your wickedness has overtaken you, man of blood that you are.'

⁹ Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, 'Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut his head off.'

¹⁰ But the king replied, 'What concern is my business to you, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse! If Yahweh has said to him, "Curse David!" what right has anyone to say, "Why have you done so?" '

¹¹ David said to Abishai and all his retinue, 'Why, the son sprung from my own body is now seeking my life; all the more reason for this Benjaminite to do so! Let him curse on, if Yahweh has told him to!

¹² Perhaps Yahweh will look on my wretchedness and will repay me with good for his curses today.'

¹³ So David and his men went on their way, and Shimei kept pace with him along the opposite mountainside, cursing as he went, throwing stones and flinging dust.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

² how countless those who say of me, 'No salvation for him from his God!

³ But you, Yahweh, the shield at my side, my glory, you hold my head high.

⁴ I cry out to Yahweh; he answers from his holy mountain.

⁵ As for me, if I lie down and sleep, I shall awake, for Yahweh sustains me.

⁶ I have no fear of people in their thousands upon thousands, who range themselves against me wherever I turn.

⁷ Arise, Yahweh, rescue me, my God! You strike all my foes across the face, you break the teeth of the wicked.

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