Scripture Reading for the
Common Calendar Year
(beginning January 1st)

May 15

Text taken from the
Third Millennium Bible^® (TMB^®)
(New Authorized Version^TM NAV^TM)

The Lectionary According to the Common Calendar

Psalm 118:1-13

1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good,
for His mercy endureth for ever!
2 Let Israel now say that His mercy endureth for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say
that His mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them that fear the LORD now say
that His mercy endureth for ever.

5 I called upon the LORD in distress;
the LORD answered me,
and set me in an ample place.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do unto me?
7 The LORD taketh my part among them that help me;
therefore shall I see what I desire
upon them that hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put
confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put
confidence in princes.

10 All the nations compassed me about,
but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about, yea, they compassed
me about;
but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees,
they are quenched as the fire of thorns;
for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

13 Thou hast thrust sorely at me that I might fall,
but the LORD helped me.

Mark 8:34-38 

34 And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them,

"Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever, therefore, shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

2 Corinthians 5:11-16

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have something to answer those who glory in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we be beside ourselves, it is for God; if we be soberminded, it is for your cause.

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge that if One died for all, then all were dead; 15 and that He died for all, that those who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, henceforth know we no man according to the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now henceforth we know Him so no more.

1 Samuel 28:3-25

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those who had familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. 4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together and came and pitched camp in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched camp in Gilboa. 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams nor by Urim nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, "Seek me a woman who hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a woman who hath a familiar spirit at Endor."

8 And Saul disguised himself and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, "I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up whom I shall name unto thee." 9 And the woman said unto him, "Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Why then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?" 10 And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, "As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing." 11 Then said the woman, "Whom shall I bring up unto thee?" And he said, "Bring me up Samuel." 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why hast thou deceived me? For thou art Saul!" 13 And the king said unto her, "Be not afraid. For what sawest thou?" And the woman said unto Saul, "I saw gods ascending out of the earth." 14 And he said unto her, "What form is he of?" And she said, "An old man cometh up, and he is covered with a mantle." And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed himself.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, "Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?" And Saul answered, "I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and answereth me no more, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do." 16 Then said Samuel, "Why then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD has departed from thee and has become thine enemy? 17 And the LORD hath done to him, as He spoke by me. For the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand and given it to thy neighbor, even to David. 18 Because thou obeyed not the voice of the LORD nor executed His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. 19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me. The LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."

20 Then Saul fell straightway full length on the earth, and was sore afraid because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all the day nor all the night. 21 And the woman came unto Saul and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, "Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hands and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spoke unto me. 22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength when thou goest on thy way." 23 But he refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth and sat upon the bed. 24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hastened and killed it, and took flour and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread thereof. 25 And she brought it before Saul and before his servants, and they ate. Then they rose up and went away that night.

Words of Wisdom - Ecclesiastes 7:12

For wisdom is a safeguard, as money is a safeguard, 
but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.