Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
23 “Am I a God who is (A)near,” declares Yahweh,
“And not a God far off?
24 Can a man (B)hide himself in hiding places
So I do not see him?” declares Yahweh.
“(C)Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares Yahweh.
25 “I have (D)heard what the prophets have said who (E)prophesy a lie in My name, saying, ‘I had a (F)dream, I had a dream!’ 26 How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy a lie, even these prophets of the (G)deception of their own heart, 27 who intend to (H)make My people forget My name by their dreams which they recount to one another, just as their fathers (I)forgot My name because of Baal? 28 The prophet who has a dream may recount his dream, but let him who has (J)My word speak My word in truth. (K)What does straw have in common with grain?” declares Yahweh. 29 “Is not My word like (L)fire?” declares Yahweh, “and like a (M)hammer which shatters a rock?
God Stands in Judgment
A Psalm of Asaph.
82 God takes His (A)stand in the congregation of [a]God;
He (B)judges in the midst of [b](C)gods.
2 How long will you (D)judge unrighteously
And (E)show partiality to the wicked? [c]Selah.
3 (F)Give justice to the poor and the orphan;
Justify the afflicted and destitute.
4 (G)Protect the poor and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They (H)do not know and do not understand;
They (I)walk about in darkness;
All the (J)foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 [d]I (K)said, “You are gods,
And all of you are (L)sons of the Most High.
7 Nevertheless (M)you will die like men
And you will fall like any (N)one of the princes.”
8 (O)Arise, O God, (P)judge the earth!
For it is You who (Q)will inherit all the nations.
29 By faith they (A)passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land, and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were [a]drowned.
30 By faith (B)the walls of Jericho fell down (C)after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith (D)Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after welcoming the spies [b]in peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I recount (E)Gideon, (F)Barak, (G)Samson, (H)Jephthah, as well as (I)David and (J)Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith (K)conquered kingdoms, (L)performed righteousness, (M)obtained promises, (N)shut the mouths of lions, 34 (O)quenched the power of fire, (P)escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, (Q)became mighty in war, (R)put foreign armies to flight. 35 (S)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their [c]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others [d]experienced mockings and floggings, yes, also (T)chains and imprisonment. 37 They were (U)stoned, they were (V)sawn in two, [e]they were tempted, they were (W)put to death with the sword. They went about (X)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, (Y)mistreated 38 (of whom the world was not worthy), (Z)wandering in desolate places and mountains and caves and holes [f]in the ground.
39 And all these, having [g](AA)gained approval through their faith, (AB)did not receive [h]what was promised, 40 because God had [i]provided (AC)something better for us, so that (AD)apart from us they would not be made perfect.
Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Faith
12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, (AE)laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us (AF)run with (AG)endurance the race that is set before us, 2 [j]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the [k](AH)author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him (AI)endured the cross, (AJ)despising the shame, and has (AK)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Not Peace, but Division
49 “I [a]have come to cast fire upon the earth, and [b]how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a (A)baptism to [c]undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! 51 (B)Do you think that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, (C)father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54 And He was also saying to the crowds, “(D)When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. 55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a (E)hot day,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! (F)You know how to examine the appearance of the earth and the sky, but [d]why do you not examine this present time?
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