Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
He
Instructed by the Word
33 Teach me, Lord, about the way of your statutes,
and I will observe them without fail.[a]
34 Give me understanding
and I will observe your instruction.[b]
I will keep it with all of my heart.
35 Help me live my life by your commands,
because my joy is in them.
36 Turn my heart to your decrees
and away from unjust gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from gazing at worthless things,
and revive me by your ways.
38 Confirm your promise to your servant,
which is for those who fear you.
39 Turn away the shame that I dread,
because your ordinances are good.
40 Look, I long for your precepts;
revive me through your righteousness.
Warnings for Watchmen
33 This message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of Man, speak to your nation’s children and tell them: ‘If I bring war[a] to a land, and the people of that land appoint one of their conscripted men[b] to serve as a sentinel, 3 and if he notices that violence[c] is approaching and sounds an alarm to warn the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the alarm does not heed the warning, when the sword arrives and destroys him, his shed blood will remain his own responsibility.[d] 5 After all, he heard the alarm sounding, but did not heed the warning, so his shed blood will remain his own responsibility.[e] If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved himself.[f] 6 If that sentinel notices that violence is approaching, but does not sound an alarm, then because the nation does not take warning and the sword arrives and destroys their lives because of their guilt, I’ll seek retribution for their shed blood from the[g] one who was acting as sentinel.’”
29 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. 30 Then you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our ancestors, we would have had no part with them in shedding[a] the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Therefore, you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Then finish what your ancestors started![b] 33 You snakes, you children of serpents! How can you escape being condemned to hell?[c]
34 “That is why I am sending you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from town to town. 35 As a result, you will be held accountable for[d] all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel[e] to the blood of Berechiah’s son Zechariah,[f] whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 I tell all of you[g] with certainty, all these things will happen to those living today.”[h]
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