Psalm 41^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Water From the Rock

17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin,^(A) traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim,^(B) but there was no water^(C) for the people to drink. ² So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water^(D) to drink.”^(E)

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”^(F)

³ But the people were thirsty^(G) for water there, and they grumbled^(H) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die^(I) of thirst?”

⁴ Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone^(J) me.”

⁵ The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff^(K) with which you struck the Nile,^(L) and go. ⁶ I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.^(M) Strike^(N) the rock, and water^(O) will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. ⁷ And he called the place Massah^[a](P) and Meribah^[b](Q) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

The Amalekites Defeated

⁸ The Amalekites^(R) came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.^{(S) 9} Moses said to Joshua,^(T) “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff^(U) of God in my hands.”

¹⁰ So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur^(V) went to the top of the hill. ¹¹ As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,^(W) but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. ¹² When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.^{(X) 13} So Joshua overcame the Amalekite^(Y) army with the sword.

¹⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write^(Z) this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out^(AA) the name of Amalek^(AB) from under heaven.”

¹⁵ Moses built an altar^(AC) and called^(AD) it The Lord is my Banner. ¹⁶ He said, “Because hands were lifted up against^[c] the throne of the Lord,^[d] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites^(AE) from generation to generation.”^(AF)

⁷ The end of all things is near.^(A) Therefore be alert and of sober mind^(B) so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply,^(C) because love covers over a multitude of sins.^{(D) 9} Offer hospitality^(E) to one another without grumbling.^{(F) 10} Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,^(G) as faithful^(H) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.^(I) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,^(J) so that in all things God may be praised^(K) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(L)

Suffering for Being a Christian

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you^(M) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice^(N) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,^(O) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.^{(P) 14} If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,^(Q) you are blessed,^(R) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.^{(S) 17} For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;^(T) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?^{(U) 18} And,

¹⁹ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will^(W) should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy

¹⁶ Jesus went on to say, “In a little while^(A) you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”^(B)

¹⁷ At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’^(C) and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”^{(D) 18} They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

¹⁹ Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? ²⁰ Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn^(E) while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.^{(F) 21} A woman giving birth to a child has pain^(G) because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. ²² So with you: Now is your time of grief,^(H) but I will see you again^(I) and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.^{(J) 23} In that day^(K) you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.^{(L) 24} Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive,^(M) and your joy will be complete.^(N)

²⁵ “Though I have been speaking figuratively,^(O) a time is coming^(P) when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name.^(Q) I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me^(R) and have believed that I came from God.^{(S) 28} I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”^(T)

²⁹ Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.^{(U) 30} Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe^(V) that you came from God.”^(W)

³¹ “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. ³² “A time is coming^(X) and in fact has come when you will be scattered,^(Y) each to your own home. You will leave me all alone.^(Z) Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.^(AA)

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.^(AB) In this world you will have trouble.^(AC) But take heart! I have overcome^(AD) the world.”