Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Jacob Wrestles With God

²² The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of the Jabbok. ²³ He took them and sent them across the stream along with all that he had. ²⁴ Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him there until daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, He touched the socket of his thigh, so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated, as he wrestled with Him. ²⁶ Then He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”

But Jacob said, “I will not let You go, unless You bless me.”

²⁷ So He said to him, “What is your name?”

And he said, “Jacob.”

²⁸ Then the man said, “Your name will no more be called Jacob, but Israel. For you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

²⁹ Then Jacob asked Him, “Tell me, I pray You, Your name.”

But He said, “Why do you ask Me My name?” Then He blessed him there.

³⁰ Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “I have seen God face to face, and my life has been preserved.”

³¹ As he crossed over Peniel, the sun rose over him, and he was limping on his thigh.

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents.

¹⁴ But continue in the things that you have learned and have been assured of, knowing those from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that since childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through the faith that is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

4 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. ³ For the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine, but they will gather to themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, having itching ears, ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn to myths. ⁵ But be self-controlled in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and prove your ministry.

The Parable of the Widow and the Judge

18 He told them a parable to illustrate that it is necessary always to pray and not lose heart. ² He said: “In a city there was a judge who did not fear God or regard man. ³ And a widow was in that city. She came to him, saying, ‘Avenge me against my adversary.’

⁴ “He would not for a while. Yet afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I do not fear God or respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she will weary me.’ ”

⁶ And the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And shall not God avenge His own elect and be patient with them, who cry day and night to Him? ⁸ I tell you, He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”