Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
ז (Zayin)
49 Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
50 This[a] is what comforts me in my trouble,
for your promise revives me.[b]
51 Arrogant people do nothing but scoff at me.[c]
Yet I do not turn aside from your law.
52 I remember your ancient regulations,[d]
O Lord, and console myself.[e]
53 Rage takes hold of me because of the wicked,
those who reject your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs[f]
in the house where I live.[g]
55 I remember your name during the night, O Lord,
and I will keep[h] your law.
56 This[i] has been my practice,
for I observe your precepts.
The Narrative of the Sinai Revelation and Israel’s Response
22 The Lord said these things to your entire assembly at the mountain from the middle of the fire, the cloud, and the darkness with a loud voice, and that was all he said.[a] Then he inscribed the words[b] on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 23 Then, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness while the mountain was ablaze, all your tribal leaders and elders approached me. 24 You said, “The Lord our God has shown us his great glory,[c] and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us[d] that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living. 25 But now, why should we die, because this intense fire will consume us? If we keep hearing the voice of the Lord our God we will die! 26 Who is there from the entire human race[e] who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the middle of the fire as we have, and has lived? 27 You go near so that you can hear everything the Lord our God is saying and then you can tell us whatever he[f] says to you; then we will pay attention and do it.” 28 When the Lord heard you speaking to me, he[g] said to me, “I have heard what these people have said to you—they have spoken well. 29 If only it would really be their desire to fear me and obey[h] all my commandments in the future, so that it may go well with them and their descendants forever. 30 Go and tell them, ‘Return to your tents!’ 31 But as for you, remain here with me so I can declare to you all the commandments,[i] statutes, and ordinances that you are to teach them, so that they can carry them out in the land I am about to give them.”[j] 32 Be careful, therefore, to do exactly what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn right or left! 33 Walk just as he[k] has commanded you so that you may live, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long[l] in the land you are going to possess.
Exhortation to Keep the Covenant Principles
6 Now these are the commandments,[m] statutes, and ordinances that the Lord your God instructed me to teach you so that you may carry them out in the land where you are headed[n] 2 and that you may so revere the Lord your God that you will keep all his statutes and commandments[o] that I am giving[p] you—you, your children, and your grandchildren—all your lives, to prolong your days. 3 Pay attention, Israel, and be careful to do this so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in number[q]—as the Lord, the God of your ancestors,[r] said to you, you will have a land flowing with milk and honey.
17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away[a]—look, what is new[b] has come![c] 18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us[d] the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea[e] through us. We plead with you[f] on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” 21 God[g] made the one who did not know sin[h] to be sin for us, so that in him[i] we would become the righteousness of God.
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