Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 82[a]
A psalm of Asaph.
82 God stands in[b] the assembly of El;[c]
in the midst of the gods[d] he renders judgment.[e]
2 He says,[f] “How long will you make unjust legal decisions
and show favoritism to the wicked?[g] (Selah)
3 Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless.[h]
Vindicate the oppressed and suffering.
4 Rescue the poor and needy.
Deliver them from the power[i] of the wicked.
5 They[j] neither know nor understand.
They stumble around[k] in the dark,
while all the foundations of the earth crumble.[l]
6 I thought,[m] ‘You are gods;
all of you are sons of the Most High.’[n]
7 Yet you will die like mortals;[o]
you will fall like all the other rulers.”[p]
8 Rise up, O God, and execute judgment on the earth!
For you own[q] all the nations.
God Sends Trouble for the Philistines Who Have the Ark
5 Now the Philistines had captured the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 The Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the temple of Dagon, where they positioned it beside Dagon. 3 When the residents of Ashdod got up early the next day,[a] Dagon was lying on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place. 4 But when they got up early the following day, Dagon was again lying on the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and his two hands were sheared off and were lying at the threshold. Only Dagon’s body was left intact.[b] 5 (For this reason, to this very day, neither Dagon’s priests nor anyone else who enters Dagon’s temple steps on Dagon’s threshold in Ashdod.)
6 The Lord attacked[c] the residents of Ashdod severely, bringing devastation on them. He struck the people of[d] both Ashdod and the surrounding area with sores.[e] 7 When the people[f] of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel should not remain with us, for he has attacked[g] both us and our god Dagon!”
8 So they assembled[h] all the leaders of the Philistines and asked, “What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They replied, “The ark of the God of Israel should be moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.
9 But after it had been moved the Lord attacked[i] that city as well, causing a great deal of panic. He struck all the people of that city[j] with sores.[k] 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.
But when the ark of God arrived at Ekron, the residents of Ekron cried out saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel here[l] to kill our[m] people!” 11 So they assembled[n] all the leaders of the Philistines and said, “Get the ark of the God of Israel out of here! Let it go back to its own place so that it won’t kill us[o] and our[p] people!” The terror[q] of death was throughout the entire city; God was attacking them very severely there.[r] 12 The people[s] who did not die were struck with sores; the city’s cry for help went all the way up to heaven.
32 But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened. 33 At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way. 34 For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison,[a] and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly[b] had a better and lasting possession. 35 So do not throw away your confidence, because it[c] has great reward. 36 For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.[d] 37 For just a little longer[e] and he who is coming will arrive and not delay.[f] 38 But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I[g] take no pleasure in him.[h] 39 But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.[i]
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