Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
65 You have done good things for me, your servant,
as you have promised, Lord.
66 Teach me wisdom and knowledge
because I trust your commands.
67 Before I suffered, I did wrong.
But now I obey your word.
68 You are good, and you do what is good.
Teach me your demands.
69 Proud people have made up lies about me.
But I will follow your orders with all my heart.
70 Those people have no feelings,
but I love your teachings.
71 It was good for me to suffer
so I would learn your demands.
72 Your teachings are worth more to me
than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
27 “‘A person in the community might sin by accident. He might do something which the Lord has commanded must not be done. He is guilty of sin. 28 When the person learns about his sin, he must bring a female goat. It must have nothing wrong with it. That will be his sin offering. 29 He must put his hand on the animal’s head. He must kill it at the place of the whole burnt offering. 30 Then the priest must take some of the goat’s blood on his finger. He must put it on the corners of the altar of burnt offering. He must pour out the rest of the goat’s blood at the bottom of the altar. 31 Then the priest must remove all the goat’s fat. He must do it in the same way the fat is removed from the fellowship offerings. He must burn it on the altar. Its smell is pleasing to the Lord. In this way the priest will remove that person’s sin so he will belong to the Lord. And the Lord will forgive him.
The Penalty Offering
14 The Lord said to Moses, 15 “A person might accidentally sin and do something against the holy things of the Lord. That person must bring a male sheep from the flock. It must have nothing wrong with it. This will be his penalty offering to the Lord. The value in silver of the male sheep must be correct. Use the proper value for silver as set by the Holy Place measure. 16 That person must pay for the sin he did against the holy thing. He must add one-fifth to its value. Then he must give it all to the priest. In this way the priest will remove the person’s sin so he will belong to the Lord. The priest does it by means of the male sheep of the penalty offering. And the Lord will forgive the person.
Live for God
11 Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers in this world. So I beg you to stay away from the evil things your bodies want to do. These things fight against your soul. 12 People who do not believe are living all around you. They might say that you are doing wrong. So live good lives. Then they will see the good things you do, and they will give glory to God on the day when Christ comes again.
Obey Every Human Authority
13 Obey the people who have authority in this world. Do this for the Lord. Obey the king, who is the highest authority. 14 And obey the leaders who are sent by the king. They are sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 So when you do good, you stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you. This is what God wants. 16 Live as free men. But do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God. 17 Show respect for all people. Love the brothers and sisters of God’s family. Respect God. Honor the king.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.