Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Lord the Keeper of Israel.

A Song of Ascents.

The Covenant of Mizpah

⁴³ Then Laban replied to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and ^(A)the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? ⁴⁴ So now come, let us ^(B)make a covenant, ^[a]you and I, and ^(C)let it be a witness between ^[b]you and me.” ⁴⁵ Then Jacob took ^(D)a stone and set it up as a pillar. ⁴⁶ Jacob said to his ^[c]kinsmen, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. ⁴⁷ Now Laban ^(E)called it ^[d]Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it ^[e]Galeed. ⁴⁸ Laban said, “^(F)This heap is a witness between ^[f]you and me this day.” Therefore it was named Galeed, ⁴⁹ and ^[g](G)Mizpah, for he said, “May the Lord watch between ^[h]you and me when we are ^[i]absent one from the other. ⁵⁰ If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, see, ^(H)God is witness between ^[j]you and me.” ⁵¹ Laban said to Jacob, “Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set between ^[k]you and me. ⁵² This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. ^53 (I)The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, ^(J)judge between us.” So Jacob swore by ^(K)the fear of his father Isaac. ⁵⁴ Then Jacob ^(L)offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his ^[l]kinsmen to ^[m]the meal; and they ate ^[n]the meal and spent the night on the mountain. ^55 [o]Early in the morning Laban arose, and ^(M)kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.

Jacob’s Fear of Esau

32 Now as Jacob went on his way, ^(N)the angels of God met him. ² Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s ^[p]camp.” So he named that place ^[q](O)Mahanaim.

An Unashamed Workman

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and solemnly ^(A)charge them in the presence of God not to ^(B)wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to ^(C)present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling ^(D)the word of truth. ¹⁶ But ^(E)avoid ^(F)worldly and empty chatter, for ^[a]it will lead to further ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their ^[b]talk will spread like ^[c]gangrene. Among them are ^(G)Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ men who have gone astray from the truth saying that ^(H)the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset ^(I)the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the ^(J)firm foundation of God stands, having this ^(K)seal, “^(L)The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “^(M)Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”

²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and ^(N)some to honor and some to dishonor. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from ^(O)these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, ^(P)prepared for every good work. ²² Now ^(Q)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, ^(R)faith, love and peace, with those who ^(S)call on the Lord ^(T)from a pure heart. ²³ But refuse foolish and ignorant ^(U)speculations, knowing that they ^(V)produce ^[d]quarrels. ^24 (W)The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, ^(X)able to teach, patient when wronged, ^25 (Y)with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, ^(Z)if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to ^(AA)the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(AB)the snare of the devil, having been ^(AC)held captive ^[e]by him to do his will.