Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
Prayer for Help and Praise to God
40 I waited expectantly[a] for the Lord,
and he took notice of me
and heard my cry.
2 He plucked me out of a pit of confusion,[b]
even out of the quicksand;
he placed my feet on a rock
and established my steps.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
praise to our God!
Many will watch and be in awe,
and they will place their trust in the Lord.
4 How blessed is that strong person
who places his trust in the Lord,
and who has not acknowledged the proud
nor resorted to lies.
5 Lord, my God,
You have done great things:
marvelous works and your thoughts toward us.
There is no one who compares to you!
I will try to recite your actions,[c]
even though there are too many to number.
6 You take no delight in sacrifices and offerings—
you have prepared my ears to listen—[d]
you require no burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin.
7 Then I said, “Here I am! I have come!
In the scroll of the book it is written about me.
8 I delight to do your will, my God.
Your Law is part of my inner being.”
11 “The more altars Ephraim builds for sin,
the more altars there will be for sin.
12 I prescribed great things from my Law for them,[a]
but they considered them profane.
13 They offer me meat from the sacrifices of my offerings,
and they eat from it,
but the Lord does not accept them.
He will now remember their transgression
and pay them back for their sins;
to Egypt they will return.
14 “Israel has neglected its maker in building palaces.
Judah has multiplied its fortified cities,
but I will send fire to their cities,
and it will consume their fortresses.”
The Coming Destruction
10 “Israel, the overgrown[a] vine, bears fruit like itself;
the more fruitful they become,
the more altars they build.
The better the land,
the more ornate the stone idols.[b]
2 Their hearts are divided;
from now on they are to be found guilty.
God[c] will tear down their altars,
he will destroy their stone idols.[d]
Concluding Words
13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Stop neglecting to show hospitality to strangers, for by showing hospitality[a] some have had angels as their guests without being aware of it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them, as well as those who are mistreated, since they also are only mortal.[b]
4 Let marriage be kept honorable in every way, and the marriage bed undefiled. For God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery.
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God[c] has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.”[d] 6 Hence we can confidently say, “The Lord[e] is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”[f]
7 Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus, the Messiah,[g] is the same yesterday and today—and forever!
9 Stop being[h] carried away by all kinds of unusual teachings, for it is good that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by food laws[i] that have never helped those who follow them.
10 We have an altar, and those who serve in the tent have no right to eat at it. 11 For the bodies of animals, whose blood is taken into the sanctuary by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 That is why Jesus, in order to sanctify the people by his own blood, also suffered outside the city gate. 13 Therefore go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured. 14 For here we have no permanent city but are looking for the one that is coming. 15 Therefore, through him let us always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to be generous, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
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