Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
23 The Lord grants success to the one
whose behavior he finds commendable.[a]
24 Even if[b] he trips, he will not fall headlong,[c]
for the Lord holds[d] his hand.
25 I was once young, now I am old.
I have never seen the godly abandoned,
or their children[e] forced to search for food.[f]
26 All day long they show compassion and lend to others,[g]
and their children[h] are blessed.
27 Turn away from evil. Do what is right.[i]
Then you will enjoy lasting security.[j]
28 For the Lord promotes[k] justice,
and never abandons[l] his faithful followers.
They are permanently secure,[m]
but the children[n] of the wicked are wiped out.[o]
29 The godly will possess the land
and will dwell in it permanently.
30 The godly speak wise words
and promote justice.[p]
31 The law of their God controls their thinking;[q]
their[r] feet do not slip.
32 The wicked set an ambush for the godly
and try to kill them.[s]
33 But the Lord does not surrender the godly,
or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.[t]
34 Rely[u] on the Lord. Obey his commands.[v]
Then he will permit you[w] to possess the land;
you will see the demise of the wicked.[x]
35 I have seen ruthless, wicked people[y]
growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.[z]
36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared.[aa]
I looked for them, but they could not be found.
37 Take note of the one who has integrity. Observe the upright.
For the one who promotes peace has a future.[ab]
38 Sinful rebels are totally destroyed;[ac]
the wicked have no future.[ad]
39 But the Lord delivers the godly;[ae]
he protects them in times of trouble.[af]
40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;
he rescues them from the wicked and delivers them,[ag]
for they seek his protection.
Israel Seeks a King
8 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba. 3 But his sons did not follow[a] his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.[b]
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead[c] us, just like all the other nations have.”
6 But this request displeased Samuel, for[d] they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you.[e] For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king. 8 Just as they have done[f] from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you. 9 So now do as they say.[g] But you must warn[h] them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.”[i]
10 So Samuel spoke all the Lord’s words to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot. 12 He will appoint for himself leaders of thousands and leaders of fifties,[j] as well as those who plow his ground, reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment. 13 He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers. 14 He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his own servants. 15 He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators[k] and his servants. 16 He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use. 17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants. 18 In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won’t answer you in that day.”[l]
6 Therefore we must progress beyond[a] the elementary[b] instructions about Christ[c] and move on[d] to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works[e] and faith in God, 2 teaching about ritual washings,[f] laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this is what we intend to do,[g] if God permits. 4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age, 6 and then have committed apostasy,[h] to renew them again to repentance, since[i] they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again[j] and holding him up to contempt. 7 For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on[k] it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed;[l] its fate is to be burned. 9 But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints. 11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish,[m] but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.
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