Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 61
Security in God
For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Davidic.
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 live in Your tent forever
and take refuge under the shelter of Your wings.(E)
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 75 pounds[a] of silver and two changes of clothes.’”(E)
23 But Naaman insisted, “Please, accept 150 pounds.”[b] He urged Gehazi and then packed 150 pounds[c] of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes. Naaman gave them to two of his young men who carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill,[d](F) he took the gifts from them and stored 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.
“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” he replied.
26 But Elisha questioned him, “Wasn’t my spirit(G) there[e] when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, 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—white as snow.(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 tactics[a] of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh(D) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,(E) against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil(F) in the heavens.(G) 13 This is why you must 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.[b]
16 In every situation take the shield(N) of faith,(O)
and with it you will be able to 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 God’s word.
18 Pray(T) at all times in the Spirit(U) with every prayer and request, and stay alert(V) in this 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 in Him to speak as I should.
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