Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
י (Yod)
73 Your hands made me and formed me.[a]
Give me understanding so that I might learn[b] your commands.
74 Your loyal followers will be glad when they see me,[c]
for I find hope in your word.
75 I know, Lord, that your regulations[d] are just.
You disciplined me because of your faithful devotion to me.[e]
76 May your loyal love console me,
as you promised your servant.[f]
77 May I experience your compassion,[g] so I might live.
For I find delight in your law.
78 May the arrogant be humiliated, for they have slandered me.[h]
But I meditate on your precepts.
79 May your loyal followers[i] turn to me,
those who know your rules.
80 May I be fully committed to your statutes,[j]
so that I might not be ashamed.
10 I answered,[a]
“Who would listen
if I spoke to them and warned them?[b]
Their ears are so closed[c]
that they cannot hear!
Indeed,[d] the Lord’s message is offensive to them.
They do not like it at all.[e]
11 I am as full of anger as you are, Lord,[f]
I am tired of trying to hold it in.”
The Lord answered,[g]
“Vent it, then,[h] on the children who play in the street
and on the young men who are gathered together.
Husbands and wives are to be included,[i]
as well as the old and those who are advanced in years.
12 Their houses will be turned over to others
as will their fields and their wives.
For I will unleash my power[j]
against those who live in this land,”
says the Lord.
13 “That is because, from the least important to the most important of them,
all of them are greedy for dishonest gain.
Prophets and priests alike,
all of them practice deceit.
14 They offer only superficial help
for the harm my people have suffered.[k]
They say, ‘Everything will be all right!’
But everything is not all right![l]
15 Are they ashamed because they have done such shameful things?
No, they are not at all ashamed.
They do not even know how to blush!
So they will die, just like others have died.[m]
They will be brought to ruin when I punish them,”
says the Lord.
16 The Lord said to his people:[n]
“You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path.[o]
Ask where the old, reliable paths[p] are.
Ask where the path is that leads to blessing[q] and follow it.
If you do, you will find rest for your souls.”
But they said, “We will not follow it!”
17 The Lord said,[r]
“I appointed prophets as watchmen to warn you,[s] saying,
‘Pay attention to the warning sound of the trumpet!’”[t]
But they said, “We will not pay attention!”
18 So the Lord said,[u]
“Hear, you nations!
Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to these people.[v]
19 Hear this, you peoples of the earth:[w]
‘Take note![x] I am about to bring disaster on these people.
It will come as punishment for their scheming.[y]
For they have paid no attention to what I have said,[z]
and they have rejected my law.
A Riot in Ephesus
21 Now after all these things had taken place,[a] Paul resolved[b] to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia[c] and Achaia.[d] He said,[e] “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”[f] 22 So after sending[g] two of his assistants,[h] Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia,[i] he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.[j]
23 At[k] that time[l] a great disturbance[m] took place concerning the Way.[n] 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines[o] of Artemis,[p] brought a great deal[q] of business[r] to the craftsmen. 25 He gathered[s] these[t] together, along with the workmen in similar trades,[u] and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity[v] comes from this business. 26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded[w] and turned away[x] a large crowd,[y] not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia,[z] by saying[aa] that gods made by hands are not gods at all.[ab] 27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute,[ac] but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis[ad] will be regarded as nothing,[ae] and she whom all the province of Asia[af] and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”[ag]
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