Bible Readings for May 28, 2026

Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today, our passages are 2 Samuel 13:1-39; John 17:1-26; Psalm 119:81-96; and Proverbs 16:6-7. The readings are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson.

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2 Samuel 13:1-39 (The Message)

2 Samuel 13

^1-4 Some time later, this happened: Absalom, David's son, had a sister who was very attractive. Her name was Tamar. Amnon, also David's son, was in love with her. Amnon was obsessed with his sister Tamar to the point of making himself sick over her. She was a virgin, so he couldn't see how he could get his hands on her. Amnon had a good friend, Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was exceptionally streetwise. He said to Amnon, "Why are you moping around like this, day after day—you, the son of the king! Tell me what's eating at you." "In a word, Tamar," said Amnon. "My brother Absalom's sister. I'm in love with her."
⁵ "Here's what you do," said Jonadab. "Go to bed and pretend you're sick. When your father comes to visit you, say, 'Have my sister Tamar come and prepare some supper for me here where I can watch her and she can feed me.'"
⁶ So Amnon took to his bed and acted sick. When the king came to visit, Amnon said, "Would you do me a favor? Have my sister Tamar come and make some nourishing dumplings here where I can watch her and be fed by her."
⁷ David sent word to Tamar who was home at the time: "Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare a meal for him."
^8-9 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house. She took dough, kneaded it, formed it into dumplings, and cooked them while he watched from his bed. But when she took the cooking pot and served him, he wouldn't eat.
^9-11 Amnon said, "Clear everyone out of the house," and they all cleared out. Then he said to Tamar, "Bring the food into my bedroom, where we can eat in privacy." She took the nourishing dumplings she had prepared and brought them to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. But when she got ready to feed him, he grabbed her and said, "Come to bed with me, sister!"
^12-13 "No, brother!" she said, "Don't hurt me! This kind of thing isn't done in Israel! Don't do this terrible thing! Where could I ever show my face? And you—you'll be out on the street in disgrace. Oh, please! Speak to the king—he'll let you marry me."
¹⁴ But he wouldn't listen. Being much stronger than she, he raped her.
¹⁵ No sooner had Amnon raped her than he hated her—an immense hatred. The hatred that he felt for her was greater than the love he'd had for her. "Get up," he said, "and get out!"
^16-18 "Oh no, brother," she said. "Please! This is an even worse evil than what you just did to me!"
But he wouldn't listen to her. He called for his valet. "Get rid of this woman. Get her out of my sight! And lock the door after her." The valet threw her out and locked the door behind her.
^18-19 She was wearing a long-sleeved gown. (That's how virgin princesses used to dress from early adolescence on.) Tamar poured ashes on her head, then she ripped the long-sleeved gown, held her head in her hands, and walked away, sobbing as she went.
²⁰ Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has your brother Amnon had his way with you? Now, my dear sister, let's keep it quiet—a family matter. He is, after all, your brother. Don't take this so hard." Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's home, bitter and desolate.
^21-22 King David heard the whole story and was enraged, but he didn't discipline Amnon. David doted on him because he was his firstborn. Absalom quit speaking to Amnon—not a word, whether good or bad—because he hated him for violating his sister Tamar.
^23-24 Two years went by. One day Absalom threw a sheep-shearing party in Baal Hazor in the vicinity of Ephraim and invited all the king's sons. He also went to the king and invited him. "Look, I'm throwing a sheep-shearing party. Come, and bring your servants."
²⁵ But the king said, "No, son—not this time, and not the whole household. We'd just be a burden to you." Absalom pushed, but David wouldn't budge. But he did give him his blessing.
^26-27 Then Absalom said, "Well, if you won't come, at least let my brother Amnon come."
"And why," said the king, "should he go with you?" But Absalom was so insistent that he gave in and let Amnon and all the rest of the king's sons go.
²⁸ Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king. Then he instructed his servants, "Look sharp, now. When Amnon is well into the sauce and feeling no pain, and I give the order 'Strike Amnon,' kill him. And don't be afraid—I'm the one giving the command. Courage! You can do it!"
^29-31 Absalom's servants did to Amnon exactly what their master ordered. All the king's sons got out as fast as they could, jumped on their mules, and rode off. While they were still on the road, a rumor came to the king: "Absalom just killed all the king's sons—not one is left!" The king stood up, ripped his clothes to shreds, and threw himself on the floor. All his servants who were standing around at the time did the same.
^32-33 Just then, Jonadab, his brother Shimeah's son, stepped up. "My master must not think that all the young men, the king's sons, are dead. Only Amnon is dead. This happened because of Absalom's outrage since the day that Amnon violated his sister Tamar. So my master, the king, mustn't make things worse than they are, thinking that all your sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead."
³⁴ Absalom fled.
Just then the sentry on duty looked up and saw a cloud of dust on the road from Horonaim alongside the mountain. He came and told the king, "I've just seen a bunch of men on the Horonaim road, coming around the mountain."
^35-37 Then Jonadab exclaimed to the king, "See! It's the king's sons coming, just as I said!" He had no sooner said the words than the king's sons burst in—loud laments and weeping! The king joined in, along with all the servants—loud weeping, many tears. David mourned the death of his son a long time.
^37-39 When Absalom fled, he went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. He was there three years. The king finally gave up trying to get back at Absalom. He had come to terms with Amnon's death.

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John 17:1-26 (The Message)

John 17

Jesus' Prayer for His Followers

^1-5 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said:
Father, it's time.
Display the bright splendor of your Son
So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor.
You put him in charge of everything human
So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge.
And this is the real and eternal life:
That they know you,
The one and only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
I glorified you on earth
By completing down to the last detail
What you assigned me to do.
And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor,
The very splendor I had in your presence
Before there was a world. ^6-12I spelled out your character in detail
To the men and women you gave me.
They were yours in the first place;
Then you gave them to me,
And they have now done what you said.
They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
That everything you gave me is firsthand from you,
For the message you gave me, I gave them;
And they took it, and were convinced
That I came from you.
They believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I'm not praying for the God-rejecting world
But for those you gave me,
For they are yours by right.
Everything mine is yours, and yours mine,
And my life is on display in them.
For I'm no longer going to be visible in the world;
They'll continue in the world
While I return to you.
Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
That you conferred as a gift through me,
So they can be one heart and mind
As we are one heart and mind.
As long as I was with them, I guarded them
In the pursuit of the life you gave through me;
I even posted a night watch.
And not one of them got away,
Except for the rebel bent on destruction
(the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).
^13-19Now I'm returning to you.
I'm saying these things in the world's hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn't join the world's ways,
Just as I didn't join the world's ways.
I'm not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I'm consecrating myself for their sakes
So they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission.
^20-23I'm praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they'll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they'll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you've sent me and loved them
In the same way you've loved me.
^24-26Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.

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Psalm 119:81-96 (The Message)

81-88 I’m homesick—longing for your salvation;

    I’m waiting for your word of hope.

My eyes grow heavy watching for some sign of your promise;

    how long must I wait for your comfort?

There’s smoke in my eyes—they burn and water,

    but I keep a steady gaze on the instructions you post.

How long do I have to put up with all this?

    How long till you haul my tormentors into court?

The arrogant godless try to throw me off track,

    ignorant as they are of God and his ways.

Everything you command is a sure thing,

    but they harass me with lies. Help!

They’ve pushed and pushed—they never let up—

    but I haven’t relaxed my grip on your counsel.

In your great love revive me

    so I can alertly obey your every word.

89-96 What you say goes, God,

    and stays, as permanent as the heavens.

Your truth never goes out of fashion;

    it’s as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up.

Your Word and truth are dependable as ever;

    that’s what you ordered—you set the earth going.

If your revelation hadn’t delighted me so,

    I would have given up when the hard times came.

But I’ll never forget the advice you gave me;

    you saved my life with those wise words.

Save me! I’m all yours.

    I look high and low for your words of wisdom.

The wicked lie in ambush to destroy me,

    but I’m only concerned with your plans for me.

I see the limits to everything human,

    but the horizons can’t contain your commands!

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Proverbs 16:6-7 (The Message)

⁶ Guilt is banished through love and truth;
Fear-of-God deflects evil.

⁷ When God approves of your life,
even your enemies will end up shaking your hand. 

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Thought for the Day

“When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad.” (Romans 12:15 - Contemporary English Version) Before offering opinions and advice, it's important to connect on a personal level. When we can see the world through another's emotional state, our own perception of reality can change, putting us in a better position to be truly loving.

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Quote for the Day

American writer whose interests included philosophy and semiotics, Walker Percy wrote, “We love those who know the worst of us and don't turn their faces away.”

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Joke for Today

The skydiving instructor was going through the question and answer period with his new students when one of them asked the usual question always asked: “If our chute doesn't open; and the reserve doesn't open, how long would we have till we hit the ground?”

The jump master looked at him and in perfect deadpan answered: “The rest of your life.”

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A Prayer Request

As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we’re laying before God today.

That companies and unions in America would flourish with new creativity and practice honorable work ethics.

Daily Lectionary Readings for May 27, 2026

Daily Lectionary Readings (Two-Year Cycle)

Lectionary Readings for Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Morning Psalm 15 1   O LORD, who may abide in your tent?           Who may dwell on your holy hill? 2   Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,           and speak the truth from their heart; 3   who do not slander with their tongue,           and do no evil to their friends,           nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; 4   in whose eyes the wicked are despised,           but who honor those who fear the LORD;      who stand by their oath even to their hurt; 5   who do not lend money at interest,           and do not take a bribe against the innocent.      Those who do these things shall never be moved. Morning Psalm 147:1-11 1   Praise the Lord!           How good it is to sing praises to our God;           for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. 2   The Lord builds up Jerusalem;           he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3   He heals the brokenhearted,           and binds up their wounds. 4   He determines the number of the stars;           he gives to all of them their names. 5   Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;           his understanding is beyond measure. 6   The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;           he casts the wicked to the ground. 7   Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;           make melody to our God on the lyre. 8   He covers the heavens with clouds,           prepares rain for the earth,           makes grass grow on the hills. 9   He gives to the animals their food,           and to the young ravens when they cry. 10  His delight is not in the strength of the horse,           nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; 11  but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,           in those who hope in his steadfast love. First Reading Proverbs 17:1-20 1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. 2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the family. 3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. 4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue. 5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished. 6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents. 7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler. 8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it; wherever they turn they prosper. 9 One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend. 10 A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person than a hundred blows into a fool. 11 Evil people seek only rebellion, but a cruel messenger will be sent against them. 12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs than to confront a fool immersed in folly. 13 Evil will not depart from the house of one who returns evil for good. 14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so stop before the quarrel breaks out. 15 One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. 16 Why should fools have a price in hand to buy wisdom, when they have no mind to learn? 17 A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity. 18 It is senseless to give a pledge, to become surety for a neighbor. 19 One who loves transgression loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones. 20 The crooked of mind do not prosper, and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity. Second Reading 1 Timothy 3:1-16 1   The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. 2 Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. 8   Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money; 9 they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons. 11 Women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and their households well; 13 for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14   I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, 15 if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. 16 Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. Gospel Reading Matthew 12:43-50 43   “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation.” 46   While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Evening Psalm 48 1   Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised           in the city of our God.      His holy mountain, 2beautiful in elevation,           is the joy of all the earth,      Mount Zion, in the far north,           the city of the great King. 3   Within its citadels God           has shown himself a sure defense. 4   Then the kings assembled,           they came on together. 5   As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;           they were in panic, they took to flight; 6   trembling took hold of them there,           pains as of a woman in labor, 7   as when an east wind shatters           the ships of Tarshish. 8   As we have heard, so have we seen           in the city of the LORD of hosts,      in the city of our God,           which God establishes forever. Selah 9   We ponder your steadfast love, O God,           in the midst of your temple. 10  Your name, O God, like your praise,           reaches to the ends of the earth.      Your right hand is filled with victory. 11       Let Mount Zion be glad,      let the towns of Judah rejoice           because of your judgments. 12  Walk about Zion, go all around it,           count its towers, 13  consider well its ramparts;           go through its citadels,      that you may tell the next generation 14       that this is God,      our God forever and ever.           He will be our guide forever. Evening Psalm 4 1   Answer me when I call, O God of my right!           You gave me room when I was in distress.           Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. 2   How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?           How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Selah 3   But know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself;           the LORD hears when I call to him. 4   When you are disturbed, do not sin;           ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah 5   Offer right sacrifices,           and put your trust in the LORD. 6   There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!           Let the light of your face shine on us, O LORD!” 7   You have put gladness in my heart           more than when their grain and wine abound. 8   I will both lie down and sleep in peace;           for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.

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