Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.
A Prayer of David.
17 Hear a (A)just cause, Lord, (B)give Your attention to my cry;
(C)Listen to my prayer, which is not from (D)deceitful lips.
2 Let (E)my [a]judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with (F)integrity.
3 You have (G)put my heart to the test;
You have visited me by night;
You have (H)sifted me and (I)You find [b]nothing;
My (J)intent is that my mouth will not offend.
4 As for the works of mankind, (K)by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the (L)ways of the violent.
5 My (M)steps have held to Your [c]paths.
My (N)feet have not slipped.
8 “But you, Israel, (A)My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
Descendant of (B)Abraham My (C)friend,
9 You whom I have [a](D)taken from the ends of the earth
And called from its (E)remotest parts,
And said to you, ‘You are (F)My servant,
I have (G)chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 Do not (H)fear, for I am with you;
Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, (I)I will also help you,
I will also uphold you with My righteous (J)right hand.’
6 But it is not as though (A)the word of God has failed. (B)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children (C)because they are Abraham’s [a](D)descendants, but: “[b](E)through Isaac your [c]descendants shall be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh [d]who are (F)children of God, but the (G)children of the promise are regarded as [e](H)descendants. 9 For this is the word of promise: “(I)At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 (J)And not only that, but there was also (K)Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that (L)God’s purpose according to His choice would [f]stand, not [g]because of works but [h]because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “(M)The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “(N)Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
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