Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
33 He turned[a] streams into a desert,
springs of water into arid land,
34 and a fruitful land into a barren place,[b]
because of the sin of its inhabitants.
35 As for his people,[c] he turned[d] a desert into a pool of water,
and a dry land into springs of water.
36 He allowed the hungry to settle there,
and they established a city in which to live.
37 They cultivated[e] fields,
and planted vineyards,
which yielded a harvest of fruit.[f]
38 He blessed[g] them so that they became very numerous.
He would not allow their cattle to decrease in number.[h]
39 As for their enemies,[i] they decreased in number and were beaten down,
because of painful distress[j] and suffering.
40 He would pour[k] contempt upon princes,
and he made them wander in a wasteland with no road.
41 Yet he protected[l] the needy from oppression,
and cared for his families like a flock of sheep.
42 When the godly see this, they rejoice,
and every sinner[m] shuts his mouth.
43 Whoever is wise, let him take note of these things.
Let them consider the Lord’s acts of loyal love.
The Response of God
16 [a] The Lord said to Moses, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know are elders of the people and officials[b] over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting; let them take their position there with you. 17 Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take part of the Spirit that is on you, and will put it on them, and they will bear some of the burden of the people with you, so that you do not bear it[c] all by yourself.
18 “And say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves[d] for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing[e] of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat,[f] for life[g] was good for us in Egypt?” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat. 19 You will eat, not just one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20 but a whole month,[h] until it comes out your nostrils and makes you sick,[i] because you have despised[j] the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why[k] did we ever come out of Egypt?”’”
21 Moses said, “The people around me[l] are 600,000 on foot;[m] but you say, ‘I will give them meat,[n] that they may eat[o] for a whole month.’ 22 Would they have enough if the flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? If all the fish of the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?” 23 And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand shortened?[p] Now you will see whether my word to you will come true[q] or not!”
Provision of Quail
31 Now a wind[a] went out[b] from the Lord and brought quail[c] from the sea, and let them fall[d] near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side, and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about three feet[e] high on the surface of the ground. 32 And the people stayed up[f] all that day, all that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail. The one who gathered the least gathered ten homers,[g] and they spread them out[h] for themselves all around the camp.
Live in Holiness
17 So I say this, and insist[a] in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility[b] of their thinking.[c] 18 They are darkened in their understanding,[d] being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 19 Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.[e] 20 But you did not learn about Christ like this, 21 if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside[f] the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image[g]—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.[h]
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