Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

NUN

¹⁰⁵ Your Word is a lantern to my feet, and a light to my paths.

¹⁰⁶ I have sworn and will perform it, that I will keep Your righteous Judgments.

¹⁰⁷ I am very afflicted, O LORD. Quicken me according to Your Word.

¹⁰⁸ O LORD, I beg you, accept the free offering of my mouth and teach me Your Judgments.

¹⁰⁹ My life is continually in my hand. Yet, I do not forget Your Law.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not swerve from Your Precepts.

¹¹¹ I have inherited Your Testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹² I have extended my heart to fulfill Your Statutes always, even to the end.

³ And in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the chancellor, to the House of the LORD, saying,

⁴ “Go up to Hilkiah, the High Priest, so that he may count all the silver which has been brought into the House of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered from the people.

⁵ “And let them deliver it into the hands of those who do the work and have the oversight of the House of the LORD. Let them give it to those who work in the House of the LORD, to repair the decayed places of the House:

⁶ “to the builders and carpenters and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone, to repair the House.

⁷ However, let no accounting be made with them of the money that is delivered into their hand; for they deal faithfully.”

⁸ And Hilkiah the High Priest said to Shaphan the chancellor, “I have found the Book of the Law in the House of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the Book to Shaphan. And he read it.

⁹ So Shaphan the chancellor came to the king, and brought him word back, and said, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the House and have delivered it into the hands of those who do the work and have the oversight of the House of the LORD.”

¹⁰ Also, Shaphan the chancellor told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the Priest has delivered a Book to me.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

¹¹ And when the king had heard the Words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.

¹² Therefore, the king commanded Hilkiah the Priest, and Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Achbor, the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the chancellor, and Asahiah, the king’s servant, saying,

¹³ “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah concerning the Words of this Book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us because our fathers have not obeyed the Words of this Book, to do according to all that which is written in it for us.”

¹⁴ So Hilkiah the Priest and Ahikam and Achbor and Shaphan and Asahiah went to Huldah the Prophetess, the wife of Shallum, the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem, in the college). And they communed with her.

¹⁵ And she answered them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,

¹⁶ “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring misery upon this place, and on its inhabitants—all the Words of the Book which the king of Judah has read—

¹⁷ ‘because they have forsaken Me and have burnt incense to other gods, to anger Me with all the works of their hands. Also, My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.’”’

¹⁸ “But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, so shall you say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Concerning the Words that you have heard:

¹⁹ “because your heart melted, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants of the same—that it would be destroyed and accursed—and have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have also heard that,” says the LORD,

²⁰ “Behold, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers. And you shall be put in your grave in peace. And your eyes shall not see all the misery which I will bring upon this place.”’” Thus, they brought word back to the king.

² God has not thrust away His people, whom He knew before. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah; how he intercedes with God against Israel, saying,

³ “Lord, they have killed your Prophets, and dug down Your altars. And I am left alone. And they seek my life”?

⁴ But what does God say in response to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal”.

⁵ Even so then, at this present time, there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

⁶ And if it is of grace, it is no more of works. Or else grace would no longer be grace. And if it is of works, it is no longer grace. Or else work would no longer be work.

⁷ What then? Israel has not obtained what it sought. But the Elect have obtained it. And the rest have been hardened.

⁸ Just as it is written, “God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear until this day”.

⁹ And David says, “Let their table be made a snare, and a net, and a stumbling block, and a recompense to them.

¹⁰ “Let their eyes be darkened that they do not see and bow down their back continually.”