Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁹ Because you have made the Lord your safe place, and the Most High the place where you live, ¹⁰ nothing will hurt you. No trouble will come near your tent.

¹¹ For He will tell His angels to care for you and keep you in all your ways. ¹² They will hold you up in their hands. So your foot will not hit against a stone. ¹³ You will walk upon the lion and the snake. You will crush under your feet the young lion and the snake.

¹⁴ Because he has loved Me, I will bring him out of trouble. I will set him in a safe place on high, because he has known My name. ¹⁵ He will call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will take him out of trouble and honor him. ¹⁶ I will please him with a long life. And I will show him My saving power.

¹⁷ After Abram returned from destroying Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s valley). ¹⁸ Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a religious leader of God Most High. ¹⁹ And Melchizedek honored Abram and said, “May good come to Abram from God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth. ²⁰ Honor and thanks be to God Most High, Who has given into your hand those who fought against you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all he had taken. ²¹ And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the riches and food for yourself.” ²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have promised the Lord God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will not take a piece of string or piece of leather or anything that is yours. Or else you might say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ ²⁴ I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol and Mamre take their share.”

⁷ Receive each other as Christ received you. This will honor God. ⁸ Christ came to help the Jews. This proved that God had told the truth to their early fathers. This proved that God would do what He promised. ⁹ This was done so the people who are not Jews can thank God for His loving-kindness. The Holy Writings say, “This is why I will give thanks to you among the people who are not Jews. I will sing to Your name.” ^{(A) 10} It says also, “You who are not Jews, be happy with His people, the Jews.” ^{(B) 11} And, “Honor and give thanks to the Lord, you who are not Jews. Let everyone honor Him.” ^{(C) 12} And Isaiah says, “There will be One from the family of Jesse Who will be a leader over the people who are not Jews. Their hope will be in Him.” ^{(D) 13} Our hope comes from God. May He fill you with joy and peace because of your trust in Him. May your hope grow stronger by the power of the Holy Spirit.