Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 6

A Prayer for Mercy

For the choir director: with stringed instruments, according to Sheminith.^(A) A psalm of David.

Jeremiah Thrown into a Cistern

38 Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal^[a] son of Shelemiah,^(A) and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard the words Jeremiah was speaking to all the people: ² “This is what the Lord says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague,^(B) but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live.^(C) He will retain his life like the spoils of war and will live.’^{(D) 3} This is what the Lord says: ‘This city will most certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon’s army,^(E) and he will capture it.’”

⁴ The officials then said to the king, “This man ought to die, because he is weakening the morale^[b] of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not pursuing the welfare of this people, but their harm.”^(F)

⁵ King Zedekiah said, “Here he is; he’s in your hands since the king can’t do anything against you.” ⁶ So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the guard’s courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.^(G)

⁷ But Ebed-melech, a Cushite court official in the king’s palace, heard Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate,^{(H) 8} Ebed-melech went from the king’s palace and spoke to the king: ⁹ “My lord the king, these men have been evil in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have dropped him into the cistern where he will die from hunger, because there is no more bread in the city.”^(I)

¹⁰ So the king commanded Ebed-melech, the Cushite, “Take from here thirty men under your authority^[c] and pull the prophet Jeremiah up from the cistern before he dies.”

¹¹ So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority^[d] and went to the king’s palace to a place below the storehouse.^[e] From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. ¹² Ebed-melech the Cushite called down to Jeremiah, “Place these old rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did this. ¹³ They pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, but he remained in the guard’s courtyard.

⁵ Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan^(A) town. ⁶ Instead, go to the lost sheep^(B) of the house of Israel.^{(C) 7} As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’^{(D) 8} Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy,^[a] drive out demons.^(E) Freely you received, freely give. ⁹ Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.^{(F) 10} Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker^(G) is worthy of his food. ¹¹ When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. ¹² Greet a household when you enter it,^{(H) 13} and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.^{(I) 14} If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet^(J) when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment^(K) for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.^(L)

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁶ “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.^{(M) 17} Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts^[b] and flog you in their synagogues.^{(N) 18} You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.^{(O) 19} But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.^(P) For you will be given what to say at that hour, ²⁰ because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit^(Q) of your Father is speaking through you.^(R)

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.^{(S) 22} You will be hated by everyone because of my name.^(T) But the one who endures to the end will be saved.^{(U) 23} When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.^(V) For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.