Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
ז Zayin
49 Remember your word to your servant;
you have given me hope through it.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction:(A)
Your promise has given me life.
51 The arrogant constantly ridicule me,
but I do not turn away from your instruction.(B)
52 Lord, I remember your judgments from long ago
and find comfort.
53 Fury seizes me(C) because of the wicked
who reject your instruction.(D)
54 Your statutes are the theme of my song
during my earthly life.[a]
55 Lord, I remember your name(E) in the night,(F)
and I obey your instruction.
56 This is my practice:
I obey your precepts.(G)
The People’s Response
22 “The Lord spoke these commands in a loud voice to your entire assembly from the fire, cloud, and total darkness on the mountain; he added nothing more. He wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 23 All of you approached me with your tribal leaders and elders when you heard the voice from the darkness and while the mountain was blazing with fire. 24 You said, ‘Look, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that God speaks with a person, yet he still lives. 25 But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer. 26 For who out of all humanity has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go near and listen to everything the Lord our God says. Then you can tell us everything the Lord our God tells you; we will listen and obey.’(A)
28 “The Lord heard your[a] words when you spoke to me. He said to me, ‘I have heard the words that these people have spoken to you. Everything they have said is right. 29 If only they had such a heart to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that they and their children would prosper forever. 30 Go and tell them: Return to your tents. 31 But you stand here with me, and I will tell you every command—the statutes and ordinances—you are to teach them, so that they may follow them in the land I am giving them to possess.’
32 “Be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or the left. 33 Follow the whole instruction the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, prosper, and have a long life in the land you will possess.
The Greatest Command
6 “This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess.(B) 2 Do this so that you may fear(C) the Lord your God(D) all the days of your life(E) by keeping all his statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life.(F) 3 Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.(G)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;(A) the old has passed away, and see,(B) the new has[a] come!(C) 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.(D) 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world(E) to himself,(F) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors(G) for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,(H) “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin(I) to be sin[b] for us,(J) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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