Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Great Is the Lord

Of David.

Balak Summons Balaam

22 Then ^(A)the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. ² And ^(B)Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. ³ And ^(C)Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. ⁴ And Moab said to ^(D)the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, ^5 (E)sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor ^(F)at Pethor, which is near the River^[a] in the land of the people of Amaw,^[b] to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. ^6 (G)Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

⁷ So the elders of Moab and ^(H)the elders of Midian departed with ^(I)the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message. ⁸ And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. ^9 (J)And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” ¹⁰ And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, ¹¹ ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” ¹² God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for ^(K)they are blessed.” ¹³ So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” ¹⁴ So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

¹⁵ Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. ¹⁶ And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, ^17 (L)for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. ^(M)Come, curse this people for me.’” ¹⁸ But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, ^(N)“Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, ^(O)I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. ¹⁹ So you, too, ^(P)please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” ^20 (Q)And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; ^(R)but only do what I tell you.” ²¹ So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

Paul Visits James

¹⁷ When we had come to Jerusalem, ^(A)the brothers received us gladly. ¹⁸ On the following day Paul went in with us to ^(B)James, and all ^(C)the elders were present. ¹⁹ After greeting them, ^(D)he related one by one ^(E)the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ^(F)ministry. ²⁰ And when they heard it, they ^(G)glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all ^(H)zealous for the law, ²¹ and they have been told about you that you teach all ^(I)the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, ^(J)telling them ^(K)not to circumcise their children or ^(L)walk according to ^(M)our customs. ²² What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. ²³ Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men ^(N)who are under a vow; ²⁴ take these men and ^(O)purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, ^(P)so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. ²⁵ But as for the Gentiles who have believed, ^(Q)we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled,^[a] and from sexual immorality.” ²⁶ Then Paul took the men, and the next day ^(R)he purified himself along with them and ^(S)went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and ^(T)the offering presented for each one of them.