Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
God the Judge
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12]. A song.
75 God, we ·thank [praise] you;
we ·thank [praise] you because ·you [L your name] are near.
We tell about the ·miracles [wonders] you do.
2 You say, “I set ·the time for trial [L an appointed time],
and I will judge ·fairly [with integrity].
3 The earth with all its people may ·shake [totter],
but I ·am the one who holds it steady [L set/establish its pillars; C the idea was that the earth was supported by pillars]. ·
4 I say to those who ·are proud [brag; boast], ‘Don’t ·be proud [brag; boast],’
and to the wicked, ‘Don’t ·show your power [L exalt your horn; C a horn is a symbol of strength].
5 Don’t ·try to use your power [L exalt your horn] against ·heaven [L the heights; or on high].
Don’t ·be stubborn [L speak with an insolent neck].’”
6 No one from the east or the west
or the ·desert [wilderness] ·can judge you [comes exalting].
7 God is the judge;
he ·judges one person as guilty [L puts one down] and ·another as innocent [L raises another up].
8 The Lord holds a cup in his hand;
it is ·full of wine mixed with [foaming wine full of] spices [C the cup of God’s wrath; 60:3; Jer. 25:15–29; Nah. 3:11; Matt. 26:39].
He pours it out ·even to the last drop [until its dregs drain out],
and the wicked drink it all.
9 I will tell about this forever;
I will ·sing praise [make a psalm] to the God of Jacob.
10 ·He will take all power away from [L I will cut off all the horns of] the wicked [v. 4],
but the ·power [L horn] of ·good [righteous] people will ·grow [be exalted].
4 Mesha king of Moab ·raised [bred] sheep. He ·paid [delivered to] the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand sheep [C as annual tribute]. 5 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab turned against the king of Israel. 6 So King Joram went out from Samaria and ·gathered [mobilized; mustered] ·Israel’s army [L all Israel]. 7 He also sent messengers to Jehoshaphat king of Judah. “The king of Moab has ·turned [rebelled] against me,” he said. “Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”
Jehoshaphat replied, “I will go with you. My ·soldiers [L soldiers are your soldiers] and my horses are ·yours [L your horses].”
8 Jehoshaphat asked, “Which ·way should we attack [route should we take]?”
Joram answered, “Through the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Edom.”
9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah, joined by the king of Edom. After a ·roundabout [circuitous] march for seven days, there was no more water for the army or for their animals that were with them. 10 The king of Israel said, “·This is terrible [T Alas]! The Lord has called us three kings together to hand us over to the Moabites!”
11 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there ·a [L no] prophet of the Lord here? We can ·ask [inquire of] the Lord through him.”
An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He ·was Elijah’s servant [L used to pour water on the hands of Elijah].”
12 Jehoshaphat said, “·He speaks the Lord’s truth [The word of the Lord is with him].” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to see Elisha.
13 Elisha said to the king of Israel, “·I have nothing [L What have I…?] to do with you. Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother [C that is, to the prophets of their false gods]!”
The king of Israel said to Elisha, “No, the Lord has called us three kings together to hand us over to the Moabites.”
14 Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] lives, ·whom I serve [L before whom I stand], I wouldn’t even look at you or notice you if Jehoshaphat king of Judah were not here. I ·respect [have regard for] him. 15 Now bring me someone who plays the ·harp [lyre].”
While the ·harp [lyre] was being played, the ·Lord gave Elisha power [L hand of the Lord came upon him]. 16 Then Elisha said, “·The Lord says to [T Thus says the Lord:] ·dig holes in the valley [make trenches in this valley; or I will fill this valley full of pools]. 17 The Lord says you won’t see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water. Then you, your cattle, and your other animals can drink. 18 This is ·easy for the Lord to do [a slight/simple thing in the eyes/sight of the Lord]; he will also hand Moab over to you. 19 You will destroy every ·strong, walled [fortified] city and every important town. You will cut down every good tree and stop up all springs. You will ruin every good field with rocks.”
20 The next morning, about the time the sacrifice was offered, water ·came [flowed] from the direction of Edom and filled the valley.
6 Do not let anyone ·fool [deceive] you ·by telling you things that are not true [or with shallow philosophies; L with empty words], because these things will bring God’s ·anger [wrath] on ·those who do not obey him [L the children/sons of disobedience]. 7 So ·have nothing to do with them [or do not partner/associate with them]. 8 In the past you were ·full of darkness [L darkness], but now you are ·full of light [L light] in the Lord. So ·live [walk] like children ·who belong to [living in; L of] the light. 9 ·Light brings [L For the fruit of the light is] every kind of goodness, ·right living [righteousness], and truth. 10 ·Try to learn [Discern; Test and prove] what pleases the Lord. 11 ·Have nothing to do with [Take no part in] the things done in darkness, which are ·not worth anything [L unfruitful]. But ·show that they are wrong [expose them]. 12 [L For] It is shameful even to talk about what those people do in secret. 13 But the light makes all things ·easy to see [visible; exposed], 14 and everything that is ·made easy to see [visible; exposed] ·can become [or becomes a; L is] light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper!
Rise from death,
and Christ will ·shine on [give light to] you [C likely an early Christian hymn based on Is. 26:19 and 60:1–2].”
15 So be very careful how you ·live [walk]. Do not ·live [walk] like those who are ·not wise [foolish], but ·live wisely [like those who are wise]. 16 ·Take advantage of every opportunity [or Make the most of your time; L …redeeming the time/season], because ·these are evil times [L the days are evil]. 17 So do not be ·foolish [ignorant] but ·learn what the Lord wants you to do [or understand the Lord’s will]. 18 Do not be drunk with wine, which ·will ruin you [is debauchery/reckless living], but be filled with the Spirit. 19 ·Speak [L …speaking] to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord. 20 ·Always give [L …always giving] thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.