Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 121
The Lord Our Protector
A song of ascents.
1 I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?(A)
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.(B)
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.(C)
4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.(D)
43 Then Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters; the sons, my sons; and the flocks, my flocks! Everything you see is mine! But what can I do today for these daughters of mine or for the children they have borne? 44 Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I.(A) Let it be a witness between the two of us.”
45 So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a marker.(B) 46 Then Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a mound, then ate there by the mound. 47 Laban named the mound Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob named it Galeed.[a]
48 Then Laban said, “This mound is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore the place was called Galeed 49 and also Mizpah,[b](C) for he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are out of each other’s sight. 50 If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, though no one is with us, understand that God will be a witness between you and me.”(D) 51 Laban also said to Jacob, “Look at this mound and the marker I have set up between you and me. 52 This mound is a witness and the marker is a witness that I will not pass beyond this mound to you, and you will not pass beyond this mound and this marker to do me harm. 53 The God of Abraham, and the gods(E) of Nahor—the gods of their father[c]—will judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. So they ate a meal and spent the night on the mountain. 55 [d]Laban got up early in the morning, kissed his grandchildren and daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban left to return home.
Preparing to Meet Esau
32 Jacob went on his way, and God’s angels met him.(F) 2 When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he called that place Mahanaim.[e](G)
An Approved Worker
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before God[a] not to fight about words;(A) this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.(B) 16 But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness.(C) 17 And their word will spread like gangrene; Hymenaeus(D) and Philetus are among them. 18 They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place,(E) and are overturning the faith of some.(F) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription:(G)
The Lord knows those who are His,(H)[b] and
Everyone who names the name(I) of the Lord
must turn away from unrighteousness.(J)
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls,(K) but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable[c] use, some for dishonorable.[d](L) 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable,[e] he will be a special[f] instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.(M)
22 Flee(N) from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,(O) along with those who call on the Lord(P) from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s(Q) slave must not quarrel,(R) but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,[g] and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness.(S) Perhaps God will grant them repentance(T) leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap,(U) having been captured by him to do his will.(V)
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