Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
7 (A)The law of the Lord is [a](B)perfect, (C)restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is (D)sure, making (E)wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are (F)right, (G)rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is (H)pure, (I)enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are (J)true; they are (K)righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than (L)gold, yes, than much fine gold;
(M)Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them (N)Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great (O)reward.
12 Who can (P)discern his errors? (Q)Acquit me of (R)hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your servant (S)from presumptuous sins;
Let them not (T)rule over me;
Then I will be [b](U)blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of (V)great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and (W)the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, (X)my rock and my (Y)Redeemer.
13 It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me (A)to inquire of God. 16 When they have a [a](B)dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
Jethro Counsels Moses
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 (C)You will surely wear out, both yourself and [b]these people who are with you, for the [c]task is too heavy for you; (D)you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to [d]me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [e]You be the people’s representative before God, and you (E)bring the [f]disputes to God, 20 (F)then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (G)the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall [g]select out of all the people (H)able men (I)who fear God, men of truth, those who (J)hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, [h]of hundreds, [i]of fifties and [j]of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be (K)that every major [k]dispute they will bring to you, but every minor [l]dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and (L)they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [m]endure, and all [n]these people also will go to [o]their place in peace.”
24 So Moses listened [p]to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose (M)able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [q]of hundreds, [r]of fifties and [s]of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; (N)the difficult [t]dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor [u]dispute they themselves would judge. 27 Then Moses [v](O)bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.
Threat and Release
13 Now as they observed the (A)confidence of (B)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and (C)began to recognize them [a]as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the [b](D)Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “(E)What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a (F)noteworthy [c]miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man (G)in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they (H)commanded them not to speak or teach at all [d]in the name of Jesus. 19 But (I)Peter and John answered and said to them, “(J)Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for (K)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) (L)on account of the people, because they were all (M)glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this [e]miracle of healing had been performed.
23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O [f]Lord, it is You who (N)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who (O)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘(P)Why did the [g]Gentiles rage,
And the peoples devise futile things?
26 ‘(Q)The kings of the earth [h]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [i](R)Christ.’
27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy [j](S)servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both (T)Herod and (U)Pontius Pilate, along with (V)the [k]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and (W)Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 And [l]now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may (X)speak Your word with all (Y)confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and [m](Z)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy [n](AA)servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the (AB)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all (AC)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (AD)speak the word of God with (AE)boldness.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.