Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
7 The law of the Lord is perfect
and preserves one’s life.[a]
The rules set down by the Lord[b] are reliable[c]
and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.[d]
8 The Lord’s precepts are fair[e]
and make one joyful.[f]
The Lord’s commands[g] are pure[h]
and give insight for life.[i]
9 The commands to fear the Lord are right[j]
and endure forever.[k]
The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy
and absolutely just.[l]
10 They are of greater value[m] than gold,
than even a great amount of pure gold;
they bring greater delight[n] than honey,
than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.
11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there;[o]
those who obey them receive a rich reward.[p]
12 Who can know all his errors?[q]
Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of.[r]
13 Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins;[s]
do not allow such sins to control me.[t]
Then I will be blameless,
and innocent of blatant[u] rebellion.
14 May my words and my thoughts
be acceptable in your sight,[v]
O Lord, my sheltering rock[w] and my redeemer.[x]
The Covenant Setting
1 This is what[a] Moses said to all of Israel in the Transjordanian[b] wilderness, the arid rift valley opposite[c] Suph,[d] between[e] Paran[f] and Tophel,[g] Laban,[h] Hazeroth,[i] and Di Zahab.[j] 2 Now it is ordinarily an eleven-day journey[k] from Horeb[l] to Kadesh Barnea[m] by way of Mount Seir.[n] 3 However, it was not until[o] the first day of the eleventh month[p] of the fortieth year[q] that Moses addressed the Israelites just as[r] the Lord had instructed him to do. 4 This took place after the defeat[s] of King Sihon[t] of the Amorites, whose capital was[u] in Heshbon,[v] and King Og of Bashan, whose capital was[w] in Ashtaroth,[x] specifically in Edrei.[y] 5 So it was in the Transjordan, in Moab, that Moses began to deliver these words:[z]
Events at Horeb
6 The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb and said, “You have stayed[aa] in the area of this mountain long enough. 7 Head out[ab] and resume your journey. Enter the Amorite hill country, and all its neighboring areas, including the rift valley,[ac] the hill country, the foothills,[ad] the Negev,[ae] and the coastal plain—all of Canaan and Lebanon as far as the Great River, that is, the Euphrates. 8 Look! I have already given the land to you.[af] Go, occupy the territory that I,[ag] the Lord, promised[ah] to give to your ancestors[ai] Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants.”[aj] 9 I also said to you at that time, “I am no longer able to sustain you by myself. 10 The Lord your God has increased your population[ak] to the point that you are now as numerous as the very stars of the sky.[al] 11 Indeed, may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, make you a thousand times more numerous than you are now, blessing you[am] just as he said he would! 12 But how can I alone bear up under the burden of your hardship and strife? 13 Select wise and practical[an] men, those known among your tribes, whom I may appoint as your leaders.” 14 You replied to me that what I had said to you was good. 15 So I chose[ao] as your tribal leaders wise and well-known men, placing them over you as administrators of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and also as other tribal officials. 16 I furthermore admonished your judges at that time that they[ap] should pay attention to issues among your fellow citizens[aq] and judge fairly,[ar] whether between one person and a native Israelite[as] or a resident foreigner.[at] 17 They[au] must not discriminate in judgment, but hear the lowly[av] and the great alike. Nor should they be intimidated by human beings, for judgment belongs to God. If the matter being adjudicated is too difficult for them, they should bring it before me for a hearing.
Instructions at Kadesh Barnea
18 So I instructed you at that time regarding everything you should do.
20 Now Herod[a] was having an angry quarrel[b] with the people of Tyre[c] and Sidon.[d] So they joined together[e] and presented themselves before him. And after convincing[f] Blastus, the king’s personal assistant,[g] to help them,[h] they asked for peace,[i] because their country’s food supply was provided by the king’s country. 21 On a day determined in advance, Herod[j] put on his royal robes,[k] sat down on the judgment seat,[l] and made a speech[m] to them. 22 But the crowd[n] began to shout,[o] “The voice of a god,[p] and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord[q] struck[r] Herod[s] down because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.[t] 24 But the word of God[u] kept on increasing[v] and multiplying.
25 So Barnabas and Saul returned to[w] Jerusalem[x] when they had completed[y] their mission,[z] bringing along with them John Mark.[aa]
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