Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Yod
Prayer for God’s Grace
73 Your hands made and formed me;
give me understanding,
that I may learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you see me and be glad,
for I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, Lord, that your decrees are just,
and that you have rightfully humbled me.
76 May your gracious love comfort me
in accordance with your promise to your servant.
77 May your mercies come to me that I may live,
for your instruction[a] is my delight.
78 May the arrogant become ashamed,
because they have subverted me with deceit;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 May those who fear you turn to me,
along with those who know your decrees.
80 May my heart be blameless with respect to your statutes
so that I may not become ashamed.
10 To whom will I speak and give a warning
so they’ll listen?
Look, their ears are closed,[a]
and they cannot hear.
Look, this message from the Lord is contemptible to them;
they don’t delight in it.
11 I’m full of the wrath of the Lord,
and I’m tired of holding it back.
Pour it out on the children in the street
and on the groups of young men gathered together.
Indeed, both husband and wife will be caught in it,
the old and the very old.
12 Their houses will be turned over to others—
their fields and wives together—
when I stretch out my hand against
those who live in the land,”
declares the Lord.
13 “Indeed, from the least important to the most important,
they’re all greedy for dishonest gain.
From prophet to priest,
they all act deceitfully.
14 They treated my people’s wound superficially, telling them,
‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed because they did
what was repugnant to God?[b]
They were not ashamed at all—
they don’t even know how to blush!
Therefore they’ll fall with those who fall.
When I punish them, they’ll be brought down,”
says the Lord.
Israel Refuses to Repent
16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stand beside the roads and watch.
Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is.
Walk in it and find rest for yourselves.
But they said, ‘We won’t walk in it!’[c]
17 I appointed watchmen over you.
Listen for the sound of the trumpet.
But they said, ‘We won’t listen!’
18 Therefore, hear, nations,
and know, congregation,
what will happen to them.[d]
19 Listen, earth!
I’m about to bring calamity on this people,
on the fruit of their plans,
because they didn’t listen to my words
and they rejected my instruction.[e]
21 After these things had happened, Paul decided[a] to go through Macedonia and Achaia and then to go on to Jerusalem. “After I have gone there,” he told them, “I must also see Rome.” 22 Then he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed in Asia a while longer.
A Riot in Ephesus
23 Now about that time a great commotion broke out concerning the Way. 24 By making silver shrines of Artemis, a silversmith named Demetrius provided a large income for skilled workers. 25 He called a meeting of these men and others who were engaged in similar trades and said, “Men, you well know that we get a good income from this business. 26 You also see and hear that, not only in Ephesus, but almost all over Asia, this man Paul has won over and taken away a large crowd by telling them that gods made by human[b] hands are not gods at all. 27 There is a danger not only that our business will lose its reputation but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be brought into disrepute and that she will be robbed of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.”
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