Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁶⁵ TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Jehovah, according to thy word.

⁶⁶ Teach me good discernment and knowledge; for I have believed in thy commandments.

⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep thy word.

⁶⁸ Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

⁶⁹ The proud have forged falsehood against me: I will observe thy precepts with [my] whole heart.

⁷⁰ Their heart is as fat as grease: as for me, I delight in thy law.

⁷¹ It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.

⁷² The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

12 And it came to pass when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and when he had become strong, [that] he forsook the law of Jehovah, and all Israel with him.

² And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, because they had transgressed against Jehovah, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem,

³ with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen; and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt: Libyans, Sukkites, and Ethiopians.

⁴ And he took the fortified cities that belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

⁵ And Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and [to] the princes of Judah that had gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, Thus saith Jehovah: Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.

⁶ And the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, Jehovah is righteous.

⁷ And when Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves: I will not destroy them, but I will grant them a little deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

⁸ Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

⁹ And Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king's house; he took away all; and he took away the shields of gold that Solomon had made.

¹⁰ And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of bronze, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the couriers who kept the entrance of the king's house.

¹¹ And it was so, that as often as the king entered into the house of Jehovah, the couriers came and fetched them, and brought them again into the chamber of the couriers.

¹² And when he humbled himself, the anger of Jehovah turned away from him, that he would not destroy him altogether; and also in Judah there were good things.

⁷ Remember your leaders who have spoken to you the word of God; and considering the issue of their conversation, imitate their faith.

⁸ Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, and to-day, and to the ages [to come].

⁹ Be not carried away with various and strange doctrines; for [it is] good that the heart be confirmed with grace, not meats; those who have walked in which have not been profited by [them].

¹⁰ We have an altar of which they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle;

¹¹ for of those beasts whose blood is carried [as sacrifices for sin] into the [holy of] holies by the high priest, of these the bodies are burned outside the camp.

¹² Wherefore also Jesus, that he might sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered without the gate:

¹³ therefore let us go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach:

¹⁴ for we have not here an abiding city, but we seek the coming one.

¹⁵ By him therefore let us offer [the] sacrifice of praise continually to God, that is, [the] fruit of [the] lips confessing his name.

¹⁶ But of doing good and communicating [of your substance] be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

¹⁷ Obey your leaders, and be submissive; for *they* watch over your souls as those that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.

¹⁸ Pray for us: for we persuade ourselves that we have a good conscience, in all things desirous to walk rightly.

¹⁹ But I much more beseech [you] to do this, that I may the more quickly be restored to you.

²⁰ But the God of peace, who brought again from among [the] dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, in [the power of the] blood of [the] eternal covenant,

²¹ perfect you in every good work to the doing of his will, doing in you what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for the ages of ages. Amen.