Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Protection from the Wicked
Psalm 140
1 For the music director: a psalm of David.
2 Rescue me, Adonai, from the evil man.
Protect me from the violent men—
3 who devise evil in their heart—
every day they stir up wars.
4 They sharpen their tongue like a serpent’s
—viper’s venom is under their lips.[a] Selah
5 Keep me safe, Adonai, from the clutches of the wicked.
Protect me from the man of violence who planned to push me off my feet.
6 The proud have hidden a trap and cords for me.
They spread out a net by the path.
They set snares for me. Selah
7 I said to Adonai: “You are my God!”
Hear, Adonai, the sound of my supplications.
8 God my Lord, the strength of my deliverance,
You shield my head in the day of battle.
9 Grant not, Adonai, the desires of the wicked.
Do not let their evil plan succeed,
or they will exalt themselves. Selah
10 As for the head of those surrounding me,
may the mischief of their lips overwhelm them.
11 Let burning coals fall upon them.
May they be cast into the fire, into deep pits,
never to rise again.[b]
12 May a slanderer not endure in the land.
May calamity hunt down a violent man.
13 I know Adonai will vindicate the poor,
and secure justice for the needy.
14 Surely, the righteous ones will praise Your name.
The upright will dwell in Your presence.
34 “I am Abraham’s servant,” he said. 35 Adonai has blessed my master very much so that he has become great, and He has given to him flocks of sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male slaves and female slaves, camels and donkeys. 36 Now Sarah, my master’s wife, gave birth to a son for my master after she was old, and He gave him everything he owns. 37 Then my master made me take an oath, saying, ‘You must not take a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I’m dwelling.’ 38 Instead you must go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.’ 39 But I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman won’t come back with me?’ 40 So he said to me, ‘Adonai, before whom I’ve walked continually, will send His angel with you, and He will make your way successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s household. 41 Then you’ll be free from my oath—if you come to my family and if they don’t give her to you—then you’ll be free from my oath.’
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, and they said, “The matter proceeds from Adonai. We cannot speak to you bad or good. 51 Rebekah is before you. Take her and go, and let her become a wife for our master’s son, just as Adonai has spoken.”
52 Now when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground to Adonai. 53 Then the servant brought out articles of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brothers and to her mother. 54 Then they ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and spent the night.
When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me off to my master.”
55 But her brother with her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days—or ten. Afterwards she may go.”
56 But he said to them, “Don’t delay me, since Adonai has made my way successful. Send me off so that I can go to my master.”
57 So they said, “We’ll call the young woman and let’s ask her opinion.” 58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?”
She said, “I will go.”
59 So they sent Rebekah their sister off with her nanny, and Abraham’s servant and his men, 60 and they blessed Rebekah and said to her:
“Our sister, may you become
thousands of ten thousands,
and may your seed possess
the gate of those who hate him.”
61 Then Rebekah got up, with her maids, and they mounted the camels and followed after the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.
62 Now Isaac had come from visiting Beer-lahai-roi and was living in the land of the Negev. 63 Isaac went out to meditate strolling in the field at dusk. Then he lifted up his eyes and saw, behold, camels were coming. 64 Rebekah also lifted up her eyes and saw Isaac. Then she fell off her camel.
65 Then she said to the servant, “Who is that man there who is walking in the field—to meet us?”
The servant said, “He is my master.”
So she took the veil and covered herself. 66 Then the servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.
67 Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother, took Rebekah and she became his wife—and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after the loss of his mother.
Haters Stumble in Darkness
7 Loved ones, I am not writing a new commandment for you, but an old commandment—one you had from the beginning. This old commandment is the word you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing a new commandment for you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining.
9 The one who says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother[a] is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has made his eyes blind.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.