Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Mem

Jethro’s Counsel

18 Now ^(A)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt. ² And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife ^(B)Zipporah, after he had sent her away, ³ and her ^(C)two sons, of whom ^[a]one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been ^(D)a ^[b]sojourner in a foreign land.” ^4 [c]And the other was named ^[d](E)Eliezer, for he said, “^(F)The God of my father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

⁵ Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses ^[e]in the wilderness where he was camped, at ^(G)the mount of God. ⁶ And he ^[f]sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” ⁷ Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and ^(H)he bowed down and ^(I)kissed him; and they ^(J)asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. ⁸ And Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians ^(K)for Israel’s sake, all the ^(L)hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how ^(M)Yahweh had delivered them. ⁹ And Jethro rejoiced over all ^(N)the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, that He had delivered ^[g]them from the hand of the Egyptians. ¹⁰ So Jethro said, “^(O)Blessed be Yahweh who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. ¹¹ Now I know that ^(P)Yahweh is greater than all the gods; ^[h]for ^(Q)in this matter they acted presumptuously against ^[i]the people.” ^12 (R)Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat ^[j]a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

²⁷ to whom ^(A)God willed to make known what is ^(B)the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is ^(C)Christ in you, the ^(D)hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we proclaim, ^(E)admonishing every man and teaching every man ^[a]with all ^(F)wisdom, so that we may ^(G)present every man ^[b](H)complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose I also ^(I)labor, ^(J)striving ^(K)according to His working, which He works in me in power.

Alive with Christ

2 For I want you to understand how great a ^(L)struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at ^(M)Laodicea, and for all those who have not seen my face in the flesh, ² so that their ^(N)hearts may be encouraged, having been ^(O)held together in love, even unto all ^(P)the wealth of the full assurance of understanding, unto the ^(Q)full knowledge of ^(R)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, ³ in whom are hidden all ^(S)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ^4 (T)I say this so that no one will delude you with ^(U)persuasive argument. ⁵ For even though I am ^(V)absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing ^[c]to see your ^(W)good order and the ^(X)stability of your faith in Christ.

⁶ Therefore as you received ^(Y)Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^[d](Z)walk in Him, ⁷ having been firmly ^(AA)rooted and being ^(AB)built up in Him, and having been ^(AC)established ^[e]in your faith—just as you ^(AD)were instructed—and abounding ^[f]with thanksgiving.