Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
65 [a]You have dealt kindly with your servant
in accord with your word, O Lord.
66 Grant me good judgment and knowledge,
for I place my trust in your precepts.
67 Before I was afflicted[b] I went astray,
but now I observe your word.
68 You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.
69 The arrogant[c] spread lies about me,
but with all my heart I observe your commands.
70 Their hearts are gross and insensitive,[d]
but I find my delight in your law.
71 It was a blessing for me to be afflicted,
so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Yodh
2 If any man or woman is discovered in any of the towns that the Lord, your God, has given you who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord, your God, transgressing his covenant, 3 going over and serving and worshiping other gods, whether it be the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, something that I have forbidden, 4 and you are told about it, and you hear of it, then you shall carefully check into it. If it is true, then an abomination has been committed in Israel; 5 you are to bring that man or woman who has done this evil thing to the town gates, and you shall stone that man or woman to death.
6 A person can be put to death upon the testimony of two or three witnesses; a person is not to be put to death upon the testimony of a single witness. 7 The witnesses will be the first to raise their hand against him to put him to death, then all of the people will raise their hands against him, in order to purge this evil from your midst.
Judges. 8 If cases come before you that are too difficult to judge, whether concerning bloodshed, or lawsuits, or assault, then take them to the place that the Lord, your God, will choose. 9 Go to the priests, the Levites, and the judge whose term it is, and consult with them. They will give you a verdict. 10 You must proceed according to the verdict that they will have given you at the place that the Lord will choose. Do everything that they tell you to do. 11 Act according to the law that they teach you and the judgment that they render. Do not turn away from the sentence that they pronounce, either to the right or the left. 12 The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying either the priest who stands before the Lord, your God, to minister there, or the judge, is to die. In this way you will purge the evil from Israel.[a] 13 All the people will hear of it and be filled with fear; they will not act presumptuously anymore.
Chapter 13
Obedience to Authority.[a] 1 Let everyone submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which derives from God, and whatever authorities exist have been instituted by God. 2 Consequently, anyone who resists authority is rebelling against what God has appointed, and those who so resist will bring judgment upon themselves.
3 Rulers are a source of fear not to those who do good but rather to those who do evil. Do you wish to be free of fear from someone in authority? Then continue to do what is right and you will receive his approval. 4 For he is acting as God’s representative for your welfare. But if you do what is evil, then be afraid for he does not wear a sword for nothing. People in authority are God’s servants to mete out punishment to wrongdoers.
5 Therefore, you are obliged to submit, not only because of fear of punishment but also because of conscience. 6 That is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, and they devote themselves to this service. 7 Pay to each person what is rightfully his—taxes to the one to whom taxes are due, tolls to the one to whom tolls are due, respect to the one to whom respect is due, honor to the one to whom honor is due.
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