Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

He Watches Over You

Psalm 121

⁴³ In response Laban said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the sons are my sons, and the flocks are my flocks. Everything you see is mine. But what can I do for these, my daughters, today, or for their sons to whom they’ve given birth? ⁴⁴ So now, come, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”

⁴⁵ So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar, ⁴⁶ and Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” So they took the stones and made a pile. Then they ate there on the pile. ⁴⁷ Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha and Jacob called it Gal-ed. ⁴⁸ And Laban said, “This pile is a witness between me and you today.” That is why its name is Gal-ed, ⁴⁹ or Mizpah, for he said, “Let Adonai keep watch between you and me when we are out of one another’s sight. ⁵⁰ If you mistreat my daughters, and if you take wives besides my daughters, though no one is with us, look! God is the witness between you and me.”

⁵¹ Laban said further to Jacob, “Behold, this pile, and this pillar which I’ve set up between you and me: ⁵² this pile serves as a witness, that I won’t pass by this pillar to go to you, and that you won’t pass by this pile and this pillar to go to me—with evil intent. ⁵³ May the God of Abraham and the gods of Nahor, the gods of their father, judge between us.”

Jacob also made an oath by the fear of his father Isaac. ⁵⁴ Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and he invited his relatives to eat bread. So they ate bread and spent the night on the mountain.

32 Early in the morning Laban got up, kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban left and returned to his place. ² While Jacob left on his way, the angels of God met him.

A Workman with the Word

¹⁴ Remind them of these things and solemnly charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which is useless—to the ruin of those who are listening. ¹⁵ Make every effort to present yourself before God as tried and true, as an unashamed worker cutting a straight path with the word of truth. ^{[a] 16} But avoid godless chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness ¹⁷ and their words will spread like cancer. Among them are Hymeneaus and Philetus— ¹⁸ men who have missed the mark concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place. They are overturning the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,”^[b] and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord keep away from unrighteousness.” ^{[c] 20} Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay—some for honor and some for common use. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor—sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

²² Now flee from youthful desires; instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and shalom, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they produce quarrels. ²⁴ The Lord’s slave must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, tolerant. ²⁵ Let him give guidance with humility to those who are in opposition—perhaps God may grant them a change of mind, leading to the knowledge of truth. ²⁶ Then they may regain their senses and escape the devil’s snare, in which they had been held captive by him to do his will.