January 31, 2026

1The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, he said: “Tell me how you judge this case: In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor. 2The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers. 3But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. Of what little he had she ate; from his own cup she drank; in his bosom she slept; she was like a daughter to him. 4Now, a visitor came to the rich man, but he spared his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him: he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the one who had come to him.” 5David grew very angry with that man and said to Nathan: “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves death! 6He shall make fourfold restitution for the lamb because he has done this and was unsparing.” 7Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! Nathan’s Indictment. “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel. I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 10Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 11Thus says the LORD: I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives before your very eyes, and will give them to your neighbor: he shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12You have acted in secret, but I will do this in the presence of all Israel, in the presence of the sun itself.” 13David’s Repentance. Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David: “For his part, the LORD has removed your sin. You shall not die, 14but since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you will surely die.” 15Then Nathan returned to his house. The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. 16David pleaded with God on behalf of the child. He kept a total fast, and spent the night lying on the ground clothed in sackcloth. 17The elders of his house stood beside him to get him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.

12A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. 13Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit. 14Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit. 15I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you. 16Rescue me from violent bloodshed, God, my saving God, and my tongue will sing joyfully of your justice. 17Lord, you will open my lips; and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

16For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

35The Calming of a Storm at Sea. On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” 36Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”