Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁷ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down from this mountain, because your people, the people you brought out of the land of Egypt, have ·ruined themselves [acted in a debauched/perverse manner]. ⁸ They have quickly turned away from the ·things [path; way] I commanded them to do. They have made for themselves a calf ·covered with gold [^Limage], and they have worshiped it and offered sacrifices to it. They have said, ‘Israel, ·these are your gods [or this is the God; 32:4] who brought you out of Egypt.’”

⁹ The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and I know that they are ·very stubborn [^La stiff-necked people]. ¹⁰ So now do not stop me. I am so angry with them that I am going to ·destroy [^Lconsume] them. Then I will make ·you and your descendants [^Lyou] a great nation [^Cechoing the promise to Abraham; Gen. 12:1–3].”

¹¹ But Moses ·begged [tried to appease] the Lord his God and said, “Lord, ·don’t let your anger destroy [^Lwhy does your anger burn against…?] your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with your great power and ·strength [^La mighty hand]. ¹² ·Don’t let [^LWhy should…?] the people of Egypt say, ‘The Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt for an evil purpose. He planned to kill them in the mountains and ·destroy [^Lwipe] them from the earth.’ So ·stop being angry [change your mind; relent], and don’t ·destroy [^Lbring harm on] your people. ¹³ Remember ·the men who served you [^Lyour servants]—Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You promised with an oath to them and said, ‘I will make your ·descendants [seed] as many as the stars in the sky [Gen. 15:5; 22:17; 26:4]. I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised them, and ·it will be theirs [^Lthey will inherit it] forever [Gen. 12:1–3].’” ¹⁴ So the Lord ·changed his mind [relented] and did not ·destroy [^Lbring harm on] the people as he had said he might.

A Prayer for Forgiveness

For the director of music. A psalm of David when the prophet Nathan came to David after ·David’s sin with Bathsheba [he committed adultery with/^Lhad gone to Bathsheba; 2 Sam. 11:1—12:25].

Thanks for God’s Mercy

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who gave me strength, because he ·trusted me [considered me trustworthy/faithful] and ·gave me this work of serving him [placed me in his service; appointed me to ministry]. ¹³ [Even though] In the past I ·spoke against Christ [^Lwas a blasphemer] and persecuted him and ·did all kinds of things to hurt him [was an arrogant/insolent/violent man; Acts 8:3]. But God showed me mercy, because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ But the grace of our Lord ·was fully given [overflowed; abounded] to me, and with that grace came the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ ·What I say is true [or This saying/word is trustworthy; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8], and ·you should fully accept it [^Lworthy of full acceptance; ^Cwhat follows may be an early Christian hymn]: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the ·worst [^Lfirst; foremost]. ¹⁶ But [^Lfor that reason] I was given mercy so that in me, the worst of all sinners, Christ Jesus could show that he has ·unlimited [immense; perfect; ^Lall] patience. His patience with me made me an example for those who would believe in him and have ·life forever [eternal life]. ¹⁷ To the ·King who rules forever [eternal King; ^LKing of the ages], ·who will never die [immortal; incorruptible], ·who cannot be seen [invisible], the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

A Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin^(A)

15 The tax collectors [^Cwho were despised because they worked for the Roman rulers and were notorious for corruption and extortion] and sinners all ·came [drew near] to listen to Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] began to ·complain [murmur; grumble]: “Look, this man ·welcomes [associates with; receives] sinners and even eats with them [^Cindicating social acceptance].”

³ ·Then [So] Jesus told them this ·story [parable]: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep but loses one of them. ·Then he will [^LWon’t he…?] leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the ·open field [wilderness; desert] and go out and look for the lost sheep until he finds it. ⁵ And when he finds it, he ·happily [joyfully] puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. He calls ·to [together] his friends and neighbors and says, ‘·Be happy [Rejoice] with me because I found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who ·changes his heart and life [repents], than over ninety-nine ·good [righteous; ^Cself-righteous] people who don’t need to ·change [repent].

⁸ “[^LOr] Suppose a woman has ten silver coins [^CGreek: drachmas; each equal to about a day’s wage], but loses one. ·She will [Won’t she…?] light a lamp, sweep the house, and ·look [search] carefully for the coin until she finds it. ⁹ And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say, ‘·Be happy [Rejoice] with me because I have found the ·coin [^Ldrachma] that I lost.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, [^LI tell you] there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner ·changes his heart and life [repents].”