Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
12 Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem.
Praise your God, O Zion.
13 For he makes the bars of your gates strong.
He blesses your children[a] within you.
14 He[b] brings peace to your territory.[c]
He abundantly provides for you[d] the best grain.
15 He[e] sends his command through the earth;[f]
swiftly his order reaches its destination.[g]
16 He sends the snow that is white like wool;
he spreads the frost that is white like ashes.[h]
17 He throws his hailstones[i] like crumbs.
Who can withstand the cold wind he sends?[j]
18 He then orders it all to melt;[k]
he breathes on it,[l] and the water flows.
19 He proclaims his word to Jacob,
his statutes and regulations to Israel.
20 He has not done so with any other nation;
they are not aware of his regulations.
Praise the Lord!
5 One night in Gibeon the Lord appeared[a] to Solomon in a dream. God said, “Tell[b] me what I should give you.” 6 Solomon replied, “You demonstrated[c] great loyalty to your servant, my father David, as he served[d] you faithfully, properly, and sincerely.[e] You have maintained this great loyalty to this day by allowing his son to sit on his throne.[f] 7 Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in my father David’s place, even though I am only a young man and am inexperienced.[g] 8 Your servant stands[h] among your chosen people;[i] they are a great nation that is too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning mind[j] so he can make judicial decisions for[k] your people and distinguish right from wrong.[l] Otherwise[m] no one is able[n] to make judicial decisions for[o] this great nation of yours.”[p] 10 The Lord[q] was pleased that Solomon made this request.[r] 11 God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies,[s] 12 I[t] grant your request[u] and give[v] you a wise and discerning mind[w] superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.[x] 13 Furthermore, I am giving[y] you what you did not request—riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.[z] 14 If you follow my instructions[aa] by obeying[ab] my rules and regulations, just as your father David did,[ac] then I will grant you long life.”[ad]
Jesus as the Light of the World
12 Then Jesus spoke out again,[a] “I am the light of the world![b] The one who follows me will never[c] walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees[d] objected,[e] “You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!”[f] 14 Jesus answered,[g] “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people[h] do not know where I came from or where I am going.[i] 15 You people[j] judge by outward appearances;[k] I do not judge anyone.[l] 16 But if I judge, my evaluation is accurate,[m] because I am not alone when I judge,[n] but I and the Father who sent me do so together.[o] 17 It is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.[p] 18 I testify about myself[q] and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”
19 Then they began asking[r] him, “Who is your father?” Jesus answered, “You do not know either me or my Father. If you knew me you would know my Father too.”[s]
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