Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
106 Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord! How good you are! Your love for us continues on forever. 2 Who can ever list the glorious miracles of God? Who can ever praise him half enough?
3 Happiness comes to those who are fair to others and are always just and good.
4 Remember me too, O Lord, while you are blessing and saving your people. 5 Let me share in your chosen ones’ prosperity and rejoice in all their joys, and receive the glory you give to them.
6 Both we and our fathers have sinned so much. 7 They weren’t impressed by the wonder of your miracles in Egypt and soon forgot your many acts of kindness to them. Instead they rebelled against you at the Red Sea. 8 Even so you saved them—to defend the honor of your name and demonstrate your power to all the world. 9 You commanded the Red Sea to divide, forming a dry road across its bottom. Yes, as dry as any desert! 10 Thus you rescued them from their enemies. 11 Then the water returned and covered the road and drowned their foes; not one survived.
12 Then at last his people believed him. Then they finally sang his praise.
27 One day, in Isaac’s old age when he was almost blind, he called for Esau his oldest son.
Isaac: “My son?”
Esau: “Yes, Father?”
2-4 Isaac: “I am an old man now, and expect every day to be my last. Take your bow and arrows out into the fields and get me some venison, and prepare it just the way I like it—savory and good—and bring it here for me to eat, and I will give you the blessings that belong to you, my firstborn son,[a] before I die.”
5 But Rebekah overheard the conversation. So when Esau left for the field to hunt for the venison, 6-7 she called her son Jacob and told him what his father had said to his brother.
8-10 Rebekah: “Now do exactly as I tell you. Go out to the flocks and bring me two young goats, and I’ll prepare your father’s favorite dish from them. Then take it to your father, and after he has enjoyed it he will bless you before his death, instead of Esau!”[b]
11-12 Jacob: “But Mother! He won’t be fooled that easily.[c] Think how hairy Esau is, and how smooth my skin is! What if my father feels me? He’ll think I’m making a fool of him and curse me instead of blessing me!”
13 Rebekah: “Let his curses be on me, dear son. Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats.”
14 So Jacob followed his mother’s instructions, bringing the dressed kids, which she prepared in his father’s favorite way. 15 Then she took Esau’s best clothes—they were there in the house—and instructed Jacob to put them on. 16 And she made him a pair of gloves from the hairy skin of the young goats, and fastened a strip of the hide around his neck; 17 then she gave him the meat, with its rich aroma, and some fresh-baked bread.
18 Jacob carried the platter of food into the room where his father was lying.
Jacob: “Father?”
Isaac: “Yes? Who is it, my son—Esau or Jacob?”
19 Jacob: “It’s Esau, your oldest son. I’ve done as you told me to. Here is the delicious venison you wanted. Sit up and eat it, so that you will bless me with all your heart!”
20 Isaac: “How were you able to find it so quickly, my son?”
Jacob: “Because Jehovah your God put it in my path!”
21 Isaac: “Come over here. I want to feel you and be sure it really is Esau!”
22 (Jacob goes over to his father. He feels him!)
Isaac: (to himself) “The voice is Jacob’s, but the hands are Esau’s!”
23 (The ruse convinces Isaac and he gives Jacob his blessings):
24 Isaac: “Are you really Esau?”
Jacob: “Yes, of course.”
25 Isaac: “Then bring me the venison, and I will eat it and bless you with all my heart.”
(Jacob takes it over to him and Isaac eats; he also drinks the wine Jacob brings him.)
26 Isaac: “Come here and kiss me, my son!”
(Jacob goes over and kisses him on the cheek. Isaac sniffs his clothes, and finally seems convinced.)
27-29 Isaac: “The smell of my son is the good smell of the earth and fields that Jehovah has blessed. May God always give you plenty of rain for your crops, and good harvests and grapes. May many nations be your slaves. Be the master of your brothers. May all your relatives bow low before you. Cursed are all who curse you, and blessed are all who bless you.”
16 1-2 Phoebe, a dear Christian woman from the town of Cenchreae, will be coming to see you soon. She has worked hard in the church there. Receive her as your sister in the Lord, giving her a warm Christian welcome. Help her in every way you can, for she has helped many in their needs, including me. 3 Tell Priscilla and Aquila hello. They have been my fellow workers in the affairs of Christ Jesus. 4 In fact, they risked their lives for me, and I am not the only one who is thankful to them; so are all the Gentile churches.
5 Please give my greetings to all those who meet to worship in their home. Greet my good friend Epaenetus. He was the very first person to become a Christian in Asia. 6 Remember me to Mary, too, who has worked so hard to help us. 7 Then there are Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who were in prison with me. They are respected by the apostles and became Christians before I did. Please give them my greetings. 8 Say hello to Ampliatus, whom I love as one of God’s own children, 9 and Urbanus, our fellow worker, and beloved Stachys.
10 Then there is Apelles, a good man whom the Lord approves; greet him for me. And give my best regards to those working at the house of Aristobulus. 11 Remember me to Herodion my relative. Remember me to the Christian slaves over at Narcissus House. 12 Say hello to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus for me, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother who has been such a mother to me. 14 And please give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the other brothers who are with them. 15 Give my love to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas, and all the Christians who are with them. 16 Shake hands warmly with each other. All the churches here send you their greetings.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.