Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
65 [a]You have dealt kindly with your servant
in accord with your word, O Lord.
66 Grant me good judgment and knowledge,
for I place my trust in your precepts.
67 Before I was afflicted[b] I went astray,
but now I observe your word.
68 You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.
69 The arrogant[c] spread lies about me,
but with all my heart I observe your commands.
70 Their hearts are gross and insensitive,[d]
but I find my delight in your law.
71 It was a blessing for me to be afflicted,
so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Yodh
Chapter 12
Rehoboam’s Unfaithfulness. 1 After Rehoboam’s kingdom was firmly established and he grew ever more powerful, he, and all Israel[a] with him, abandoned the law of the Lord. 2 In the fifth year of the reign of King Rehoboam, because he and his people had been unfaithful to the Lord, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem[b] 3 with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. In addition, he also brought with him from Egypt a vast army beyond counting—Libyans, Sukkites,[c] and Ethiopians.
4 After Shishak had captured the fortified cities of Judah and had arrived at the outskirts of Jerusalem, 5 the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and the commanders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them: “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have abandoned me, and therefore I have abandoned you to the power of Shishak.’ ” 6 Then the officers of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said: “The Lord is just.”
7 When the Lord saw that they had humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “Because they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them. Rather, I will grant them some degree of deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 However, they shall become his servants, so that they may come to understand the difference between serving me and serving the rulers of other countries.”
9 Therefore, Shishak, the king of Egypt, attacked Jerusalem and carried away the treasures of the house of the Lord as well as the treasures of the king’s palace. He seized everything, including the shields of gold that Solomon had made. 10 Therefore, King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and entrusted them to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance of the king’s palace.
11 Whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guards would accompany him, bearing the shield and then afterward would return them to the guardroom. 12 Because Rehoboam had humbled himself, the anger of the Lord was averted from him so as not to destroy him completely, and the conditions in Judah continued to improve.
Let Us Seek the City That Is To Come.[a] 7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Keep in mind the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 Do not be led astray by all kinds of strange doctrines. It is good for us to have our hearts strengthened by grace, and not by ceremonial foods, which have not benefited those who partake of them.
10 We have an altar[b] from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.[c] 12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.[d]
13 Let us then go to him outside the camp[e] and bear the abuse he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is to come. 15 Through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise,[f] that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
16 [g]Do not neglect to do good works and to share with others what you have, for these are the kind of sacrifices that please God. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls and will have to render an account in that regard. Make this a joy for them to do rather than a grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 Pray for us. We are sure that our own conscience is clear, and our desire is to act honorably in everything we do. 19 I especially ask you to do this that I may be restored to you as soon as possible.
20 Final Doxology.[h]May the God of peace—who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant— 21 make you perfect in every respect so that you may do his will. And may he enable us to achieve what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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