Saint Blase, Bishop Martyr and Saint Ansgar, Bishop

18:9Then it happened that Absalom, riding on a mule, met the servants of David. And when the mule had entered under a thick and large oak tree, his head became trapped in the oak. And while he was suspended between heaven and earth, the mule on which he had been sitting continued on. 10Then a certain one saw this and reported it to Joab, saying, “I saw Absalom hanging from an oak.”

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14And Joab said, “It will not be as you wish. Instead, I will be assailing him in your sight.” Then he took three lances in his hand, and he fixed them in the heart of Absalom. And while he was still clinging to life upon the oak,

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24Now David was sitting between the two gates. Truly, the watchman, who was at the summit of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone. 25And crying out, he told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is good news in his mouth.” But as he was advancing and drawing nearer,

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30And the king said to him, “Pass, and stand here.” And when he had passed and stood still, 31Hushai appeared. And approaching, he said: “I bear good news, my lord the king. For today the Lord has judged for you, from the hand of all who had risen up against you.” 32But the king said to Hushai, “Is there peace for the boy Absalom?” And responding, Hushai said to him, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against him for evil, be as the boy is.” 33And so the king, being greatly saddened, ascended to the upper room of the gate, and he wept. And as he went, he was speaking in this manner: “My son Absalom! Absalom my son! Who can grant to me that I may die on your behalf? Absalom, my son! My son, Absalom!”

19:1Now it was reported to Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for his son. 2And so the victory on that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said on that day, “The king is grieving over his son.”

1A Prayer of David himself. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear me. For I am needy and poor.

2Preserve my soul, for I am holy. My God, bring salvation to your servant who hopes in you.

3O Lord, be merciful to me, for I have cried out to you all day long.

4Give joy to the soul of your servant, for I have lifted up my soul to you, Lord.

5For you are sweet and mild, Lord, and plentiful in mercy to all who call upon you.

6Pay attention, Lord, to my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplication.

21And when Jesus had crossed in the boat, over the strait again, a great crowd came together before him. And he was near the sea. 22And one of the rulers of the synagogue, named Jairus, approached. And seeing him, he fell prostrate at his feet. 23And he beseeched him greatly, saying: “For my daughter is near the end. Come and lay your hand on her, so that she may be healthy and may live.” 24And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him, and they pressed upon him. 25And there was a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years. 26And she had endured much from several physicians, and she had spent everything she owned with no benefit at all, but instead she became worse. 27Then, when she had heard of Jesus, she approached through the crowd behind him, and she touched his garment. 28For she said: “Because if I touch even his garment, I will be saved.” 29And immediately, the source of her bleeding was dried up, and she sensed in her body that she had been healed from the wound. 30And immediately Jesus, realizing within himself that power that had gone out from him, turning to the crowd, said, “Who touched my garments?” 31And his disciples said to him, “You see that the crowd presses around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32And he looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33Yet truly, the woman, in fear and trembling, knowing what had happened within her, went and fell prostrate before him, and she told him the whole truth. 34And he said to her: “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace, and be healed from your wound.” 35While he was still speaking, they arrived from the ruler of the synagogue, saying: “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36But Jesus, having heard the word that was spoken, said to the ruler of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid. You need only believe.” 37And he would not permit anyone to follow him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38And they went to the house of the ruler of the synagogue. And he saw a tumult, and weeping, and much wailing. 39And entering, he said to them: “Why are you disturbed and weeping? The girl is not dead, but is asleep.” 40And they derided him. Yet truly, having put them all out, he took the father and mother of the girl, and those who were with him, and he entered to where the girl was lying. 41And taking the girl by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koumi,” which means, “Little girl, (I say to you) arise.” 42And immediately the young girl rose up and walked. Now she was twelve years old. And they were suddenly struck with a great astonishment. 43And he instructed them sternly, so that no one would know about it. And he told them to give her something to eat.