February 6, 2026

2Like the choice fat of sacred offerings, so was DAVID in Israel. 3He played with lions as though they were young goats, and with bears, like lambs of the flock. 4As a youth he struck down the giant and wiped out the people’s disgrace; His hand let fly the slingstone that shattered the pride of Goliath. 5For he had called upon the Most High God, who gave strength to his right arm To defeat the skilled warrior and establish the might of his people. 6Therefore the women sang his praises and honored him for “the tens of thousands.” When he received the royal crown, he battled 7and subdued the enemy on every side. He campaigned against the hostile Philistines and shattered their power till our own day. 8With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole heart he loved his Maker 9and daily had his praises sung; He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of each year With string music before the altar, providing sweet melody for the psalms So that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound. 10and daily had his praises sung; He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of each year With string music before the altar, providing sweet melody for the psalms So that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound. 11The LORD forgave him his sins and exalted his strength forever; He conferred on him the rights of royalty and established his throne in Israel.

31God’s way is unerring; the LORD’s promise is refined; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 47VI - The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, my savior! 50Thus I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. 51You have given great victories to your king, and shown mercy to his anointed, to David and his posterity forever.

15But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance. The Parable of the Lamp.

14King Herod heard about it, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” 15Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” 16But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” The Death of John the Baptist. 17Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. 18John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. 20Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. 21She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. 22Herodias’s own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” 23He even swore [many things] to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” 24She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 26The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. 27So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. 28He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.