Bible in a Year.

On the 127th day, 2 Samuel 9 reveals David's compassion in caring for Jonathan's son Mephibosheth. 1 Chronicles 12 highlights the leaders and warriors who joined David, strengthening his kingdom. Psalm 28 teaches us to cry out to God for help and protection, strengthening our trust in His justice.

1. And David said: Is there any one, think you, left of the house of Saul, that I may shew kindness to him for Jonathan's sake?

2. Now there was of the house of Saul, a servant named Siba: and when the king had called him to him, he said to him: Art thou Siba? And he answered: I am Siba thy servant.

3. And the king said: Is there any one left of the house of Saul, that I may shew the mercy of God unto him? And Siba said to the king: There is a son of Jonathan left, who is lame of his feet.

4. Where is he? said he. And Siba said to the king: Behold he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lodabar.

5. Then king David sent, and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodabar.

6. And when Miphiboseth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul was come to David, he fell on his face and worshipped. And David said: Miphiboseth? And he answered: Behold thy servant.

7. And David said to him: Fear not, for I will surely shew thee mercy for Jonathan thy father's sake, and I will restore the lands of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table always.

8. He bowed down to him, and said: Who am I thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?

9. Then the king called Siba the servant of Saul, and said to him: All that belonged to Saul, and all his house, I have given to thy master's son.

10. Thou therefore and thy sons and thy servants shall till the land for him: and thou shalt bring in food for thy master's son, that he may be maintained: and Miphiboseth the son of thy master shall always eat bread at my table. And Siba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11. And Siba said to the king: As thou my lord the king hast commanded thy servant, so will thy servant do: and Miphiboseth shall eat at my table, as one of the sons of the king.

12. And Miphiboseth had a young son whose name was Micha: and all the kindred of the house of Siba served Miphiboseth.

13. But Miphiboseth dwelt in Jerusalem: because he ate always of the king's table: and he was lame of both feet.

1. Now these are they that came to David to Siceleg, while he yet fled from Saul the son of Cia, and they were most valiant and excellent warriors,

2. Bending the bow, and using either hand in hurling stones with slings, and shooting arrows: of the brethren of Saul of Benjamin.

3. The chief was Ahiezer, and Joas, the sons of Samaa of Gabaath, and Jaziel, and Phallet the sons of Azmoth, and Beracha, and Jehu an Anathothite.

4. And Samaias of Gabaon, the stoutest amongst the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremias, and Jeheziel, and Johanan, and Jezabad of Gaderoth;

5. And Eluzai, and Jerimuth, and Baalia, and Samaria, and Saphatia the Haruphite;

6. Elcana, and Jesia, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jesbaam of Carehim:

7. And Joela, and Zabadia the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

8. From Gaddi also there went over to David, when he lay hid in the wilderness most valiant men, and excellent warriors, holding shield and spear: whose faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift like the roebucks on the mountains.

9. Ezer the chief, Obdias the second, Eliab the third,

10. Masmana the fourth, Jeremias the fifth.

11. Ethi the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

12. Johanan the eighth, Elzebad the ninth,

13. Jerenias the tenth, Machbani the eleventh,

14. These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the army: the least of them was captain over a hundred soldiers, and the greatest over a thousand.

15. These are they who passed over the Jordan in the first month, when it is used to how over its banks: and they put to flight all that dwelt in the valleys both toward the east and toward the west.

16. And there came also of the men of Benjamin, and of Juda to the hold, in which David abode.

17. And David went out to meet them, and said: If you are come peaceably to me to help me, let my heart be joined to you: but if you plot against me for my enemies whereas I have no iniquity in my hands, let the God of our fathers see, and judge.

18. But the spirit came upon Amasai the chief among thirty, and he said: We are thine, O David, and for thee, O son of Isai: peace, peace be to thee, and peace to thy helpers. For thy God helpeth thee. So David received them, and made them captains of the band.

19. And there were some of Manasses that went over to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to fight: but he did not fight with them: because the lords of the Philistines taking counsel sent him back, saying: With the danger of our heads he will return to his master Saul.

20. So when he went back to Siceleg, m there fled to him of Manasses, Ednas and Jozabad, and Jedihel, and Michael, and Ednas, and Jozabad, and Eliu, and Salathi, captains of thousands in Manasses.

21. These helped David against the rovers: for they were all most valiant men, and were made commanders in the army.

22. Moreover day by day there came some to David to help him till they became a great number, like the army of God.

23. And this is the number of the chiefs of the army who came to David, when he was in Hebron, to transfer to him the kingdom of Saul, according to the word of the Lord.

24. The sons of Juda bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred well appointed to war.

25. Of the sons of Simeon valiant men for war, seven thousand one hundred.

26. Of the sons of Levi, four thousand six hundred.

27. And Joiada prince of the race of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred.

28. Sadoc also a young man of excellent disposition, and the house of his father, twenty-two principal men.

29. And of the sons of Benjamin the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto a great part of them followed the house of Saul.

30. And of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, men of great valour renowned in their kindreds.

31. And of the half tribe of Manasses, eighteen thousand, every one by their names, came to make David king.

32. Also of the sons of Issachar men of understanding, that knew all times to order what Israel should do, two hundred principal men: and all the rest of the tribe followed their counsel.

33. And of Zabulon such as went forth to battle, and stood in array well appointed with armour for war, there came fifty thousand to his aid, with no double heart.

34. And of Nephtali, a thousand leaders: and with them seven and thirty thousand, furnished with shield and spear.

35. Of Dan also twenty-eight thousand six hundred prepared for battle.

36. And of Aser forty thousand going forth to fight, and challenging in battle.

37. And on the other side of the Jordan of the sons of Ruben, and of Gad, and of the half of the tribe of Manasses a hundred and twenty thousand, furnished with arms for war.

38. All these men of war well appointed to fight, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel, were of one heart to make David king.

39. And they were there with David three days eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.

40. Moreover they that were near them even as far as Issachar, and Zabulon, and Nephtali, brought leaves on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, to eat: meal, figs, raisins, wine, oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance, for there was joy in Israel.

1. A psalm for David himself. Unto thee will I cry, O Lord: O my God, be not thou silent to me: lest thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

2. Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication, when I pray to thee; when I lift up my hands to thy holy temple.

3. Draw me not away together with the wicked; and with the workers of iniquity destroy me not: Who speak peace with their neighbour, but evils are in their hearts.

4. Give them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their inventions. According to the works of their hands give thou to them: render to them their reward.

5. Because they have not understood the works of the Lord, and the operations of his hands: thou shalt destroy them, and shalt not build them up.

6. Blessed be the Lord, for he hath heard the voice of my supplication.

7. The Lord is my helper and my protector: in him hath my heart confided, and I have been helped. And my flesh hath flourished again, and with my will I will give praise to him.

8. The Lord is the strength of his people, and the protector of the salvation of his anointed.

9. Save, O Lord, thy people, and bless thy inheritance: and rule them and exalt them for ever.