Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

141 Of understanding for David. A prayer when he was in the cave. [1 Kings 24.]

² I cried to the Lord with my voice: with my voice I made supplication to the Lord.

³ In his sight I pour out my prayer, and before him I declare my trouble:

⁴ When my spirit failed me, then thou newest my paths. In this way wherein I walked, they have hidden a snare for me.

⁵ I looked on my right hand, and beheld, and there was no one that would know me. Flight hath failed me: and there is no one that hath regard to my soul.

⁶ I cried to thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living.

⁷ Attend to my supplication: for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

⁸ Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the just wait for me, until thou reward me.

²¹ And I will set my glory among the nations: and all nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.

²² And the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward.

²³ And the nations shall know that the house of Israel were made captives for their iniquity, because they forsook me, and I hid my face from them: and I delivered them into the hands of their enemies, and they fell all by the sword.

²⁴ I have dealt with them according to their uncleanness, and wickedness, and hid my face from them.

²⁵ Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Now will I bring back the captivity of Jacob, and will have mercy on all the house of Israel: and I will be jealous for my holy name.

²⁶ And they shall bear their confusion, and all the transgressions wherewith they have transgressed against me, when they shall dwell in their land securely fearing no man:

²⁷ And I shall have brought them back from among the nations, and shall have gathered them together out of the lands of their enemies, and shall be sanctified in them, in the sight of many nations.

²⁸ And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I caused them to be carried away among the nations; and I have gathered them together unto their own land, and have not left any of them there.

²⁹ And I will hide my face no more from them, for I have poured out my spirit upon all the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

40 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, the tenth day of the month, the fourteenth year after the city was destroyed: in the selfsame day the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me thither.

² In the visions of God he brought me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain: upon which there was as the building of a city, bending towards the south.

³ And he brought me in thither, and behold a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed in his hand, and he stood in the gate.

⁴ And this man said to me: Son of man, see with thy eyes, and hear with thy ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall shew thee: for thou art brought hither that they may be shewn to thee: declare all that thou seest, to the house of Israel.

²³ All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify.

²⁴ Let no man seek his own, but that which is another's.

²⁵ Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat; asking no question for conscience' sake.

²⁶ The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

²⁷ If any of them that believe not, invite you, and you will be willing to go; eat of any thing that is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake.

²⁸ But if any man say: This has been sacrificed to idols, do not eat of it for his sake that told it, and for conscience' sake.

²⁹ Conscience, I say, not thy own, but the other's. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?

³⁰ If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks?

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God.

³² Be without offence to the Jews, and to the Gentiles, and to the church of God:

³³ As I also in all things please all men, not seeking that which is profitable to myself, but to many, that may be saved.

11 Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.