Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Lord, the Keeper of Israel.

A Song of Ascents.

The Covenant of Mizpah

⁴³ Then Laban replied to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the ^[a]children are my ^[b]grandchildren, ^(A)the flocks are my flocks, and everything that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these daughters of mine or to their children to whom they have given birth? ⁴⁴ So now come, let’s ^(B)make a covenant, ^[c]you and I, and ^(C)it shall be a witness between ^[d]you and me.” ⁴⁵ Then Jacob took ^(D)a stone and set it up as a memorial stone. ⁴⁶ Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. ⁴⁷ Now Laban ^(E)called it ^[e]Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it ^[f]Galeed. ⁴⁸ Laban said, “^(F)This heap is a witness between ^[g]you and me this day.” Therefore it was named Galeed, ⁴⁹ and ^[h](G)Mizpah, for he said, “May the Lord keep watch between ^[i]you and me when we are ^[j]absent one from the other. ⁵⁰ If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, ^(H)God is witness between ^[k]you and me.” ⁵¹ Laban also said to Jacob, “Behold this heap and behold the memorial stone which I have set between ^[l]you and me. ⁵² This heap is a witness, and the memorial stone is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this memorial stone to me, for harm. ^53 (I)The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, ^(J)judge between us.” So Jacob swore by ^(K)the fear of his father Isaac. ⁵⁴ Then Jacob ^(L)offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his relatives to ^[m]the meal; and they ate ^[n]the meal and spent the night on the mountain. ^55 [o]Then early in the morning Laban got up, and ^(M)kissed his ^[p]grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.

Jacob’s Fear of Esau

32 Now as Jacob went on his way, ^(N)the angels of God met him. ² And when he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s ^[q]camp.” So he named that place ^[r](O)Mahanaim.

An Unashamed Worker

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and solemnly ^(A)exhort them in the presence of God not to ^(B)dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the listeners. ¹⁵ Be diligent to ^(C)present yourself approved to God as a worker who ^[a]does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling ^(D)the word of truth. ¹⁶ But ^(E)avoid ^(F)worldly and empty chatter, for ^[b]it will lead to further ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their ^[c]talk will spread like ^[d]gangrene. Among them are ^(G)Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that ^(H)the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing ^(I)the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the ^(J)firm foundation of God stands, having this ^(K)seal: “^(L)The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “^(M)Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”

²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and ^(N)some are for honor while others are for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from ^(O)these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, ^(P)prepared for every good work. ²² Now ^(Q)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, ^(R)faith, love, and peace with those who ^(S)call on the Lord ^(T)from a pure heart. ²³ But refuse foolish and ignorant ^(U)speculations, knowing that they ^(V)produce ^[e]quarrels. ^24 (W)The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, ^(X)skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, ^25 (Y)with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, ^(Z)if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to ^(AA)the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(AB)the snare of the devil, having been ^(AC)held captive ^[f]by him to do his will.