Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 61
Security in God
For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Of David.
1 God, hear my cry;
pay attention to my prayer.(A)
2 I call to you from the ends of the earth
when my heart is without strength.(B)
Lead me to a rock that is high above me,(C)
3 for you have been a refuge for me,
a strong tower(D) in the face of the enemy.
4 I will dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge under the shelter of your wings.(E)Selah
5 God, you have heard my vows;(F)
you have given a heritage
to those who fear your name.(G)
6 Add days to the king’s life;
may his years span many generations.(H)
7 May he sit enthroned before God forever.(I)
Appoint faithful love and truth to guard him.(J)
8 Then I will continually sing of your name,(K)
fulfilling my vows day by day.(L)
19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”(A)
Gehazi’s Greed Punished
After Naaman had traveled a short distance from Elisha, 20 Gehazi,(B) the attendant of Elisha the man of God, thought, “My master has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting from him what he brought. As the Lord lives,(C) I will run after him and get something from him.”
21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?”
22 Gehazi said, “It’s all right.(D) My master has sent me to say, ‘I have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them seventy-five pounds[a] of silver and two sets of clothing.’”(E)
23 But Naaman insisted, “Please, accept one hundred fifty pounds.”[b] He urged Gehazi and then packed one hundred fifty pounds of silver in two bags with two sets of clothing. Naaman gave them to two of his attendants who carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill,[c](F) he took the gifts from them and deposited them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they left.
25 Gehazi came and stood by his master. “Where did you go, Gehazi?” Elisha asked him.
He replied, “Your servant didn’t go anywhere.”
26 “And my heart didn’t go[d](G) when the man got down from his chariot to meet you,” Elisha said. “Is this a time to accept silver and clothing, olive orchards and vineyards, flocks and herds, and male and female slaves? 27 Therefore, Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants forever.” So Gehazi went out from his presence diseased, resembling snow.[e](H)
Christian Warfare
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.(A) 11 Put on(B) the full armor(C) of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh(D) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,(E) against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil,(F) spiritual forces in the heavens.(G) 13 For this reason take up the full armor(H) of God, so that you may be able to resist(I) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,(J) therefore, with truth(K) like a belt around your waist, righteousness(L) like armor on your chest,(M) 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield(N) of faith(O) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(P) 17 Take the helmet(Q) of salvation and the sword(R) of the Spirit(S)—which is the word of God. 18 Pray(T) at all times in the Spirit(U) with every prayer and request, and stay alert(V) with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness(W) the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador(X) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
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