Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Psalmist’s Profession of Uprightness.

A Psalm of David.

⁹ Now in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, ^(A)Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it. ¹⁰ And at the end of three years they captured it; in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was ^(B)the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was captured. ¹¹ Then the king of Assyria led Israel into exile to Assyria, and put them in ^(C)Halah and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. ¹² This happened because they ^(D)did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but violated His covenant, all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded; they would neither listen nor do it.

Invasion of Judah

^13 (E)Now in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria marched against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them. ¹⁴ Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent messengers to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “^(F)I have done wrong. ^[a]Withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me I will endure.” So the king of Assyria imposed on Hezekiah king of Judah the payment of three hundred ^[b]talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. ^15 (G)Hezekiah then gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king’s house. ¹⁶ At that time Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the doorposts, which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and he gave it to the king of Assyria.

¹⁷ Then the king of Assyria sent ^(H)Tartan, Rab-saris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a large army to Jerusalem. So they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they went up, they came and stood by the ^(I)conduit of the upper pool, which is on the road of the ^[c]fuller’s field. ¹⁸ Then they called to the king, and ^(J)Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the household, ^(K)Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the secretary, went out to them.

A Good Minister’s Discipline

⁶ In pointing out these things to ^(A)the brothers and sisters, you will be a good ^(B)servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the ^(C)good doctrine which you ^(D)have been following. ⁷ But ^[a]stay away from ^(E)worthless ^(F)stories that are typical of old women. Rather, ^[b]discipline yourself for the purpose of ^(G)godliness; ⁸ for ^(H)bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but ^(I)godliness is beneficial for all things, since it ^(J)holds promise for the ^(K)present life and also for the life to come. ^9 (L)It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. ¹⁰ For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set ^(M)our hope on ^(N)the living God, who is ^(O)the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.

^11 [c](P)Prescribe and teach these things. ^12 (Q)Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, ^(R)love, faith, and purity, show yourself ^(S)an example ^[d]of those who believe. ^13 (T)Until I come, give your attention to the public ^[e](U)reading, to exhortation, and teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was granted to you through words of ^(V)prophecy with ^(W)the laying on of hands by the ^[f](X)council of elders. ¹⁵ Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ^16 (Y)Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ^(Z)save both yourself and those who hear you.