Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

(A psalm by David for the music leader. Use flutes.)

A Prayer for Help

Nehemiah's Prayer

1 I am Nehemiah son of Hacaliah, and in this book I tell what I have done.

During the month of Chislev^[a] in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes^[b] ruled Persia, I was in his fortress city of Susa,^{[c] 2} when my brother Hanani came with some men from Judah. So I asked them about the Jews who had escaped^[d] from being captives in Babylonia. I also asked them about the city of Jerusalem.

³ They told me, “Those captives who have come back are having all kinds of troubles. They are terribly disgraced, Jerusalem's walls are broken down, and its gates have been burned.”

⁴ When I heard this, I sat down on the ground and cried. Then for several days, I mourned; I went without eating to show my sorrow, and I prayed:

⁵ Lord God of heaven, you are great and fearsome. And you faithfully keep your promises to everyone who loves you and obeys your commands. ⁶ I am your servant, so please have mercy on me and answer the prayer that I make day and night for these people of Israel who serve you. I, my family, and the rest of your people have sinned ⁷ by choosing to disobey you and the laws and teachings you gave to your servant Moses.

^8 (A) Please remember the promise you made to Moses. You told him that if we were unfaithful, you would scatter us among foreign nations. ^9 (B) But you also said that no matter how far away we were, we could turn to you and start obeying your laws. Then you would bring us back to the place where you have chosen to be worshiped.

¹⁰ Our Lord, I am praying for your servants—those you rescued by your great strength and mighty power. ¹¹ Please answer my prayer and the prayer of your other servants who gladly honor your name. When I serve the king his wine today, make him pleased with me and let him do what I ask.

Peter and John Heal a Lame Man

3 The time of prayer^[a] was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. ² A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in.

³ The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. ⁴ But they looked straight at him and said, “Look up at us!”

⁵ The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. ⁶ But Peter said, “I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking.” ⁷ Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up.

At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, ⁸ and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God. ⁹ Everyone saw him walking around and praising God. ¹⁰ They knew he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man.