Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 148

¹ Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights!

² Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts!

³ Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you stars of light!

⁴ Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the heavens!

⁵ Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.

⁶ He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away [He fixed their bounds which cannot be passed over].

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps!

⁸ You lightning, hail, fog, and frost, you stormy wind fulfilling His orders!

⁹ Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars!

¹⁰ Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers and judges of the earth!

¹² Both young men and maidens, old men and children!

¹³ Let them praise and exalt the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted and supreme! His glory and majesty are above earth and heaven!

¹⁴ He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them power, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence], a song of praise for all His godly ones, for the people of Israel, who are near to Him. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)^(A)

⁵ In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, ^[a]Ask what I shall give you.

⁶ Solomon said, You have shown to Your servant David my father great mercy and loving-kindness, according as he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart with You; and You have kept for him this great kindness and steadfast love, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.

⁷ Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of David my father, and I am ^[b]but a lad [in wisdom and experience]; I know not how to go out (begin) or come in (finish).

⁸ Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people who cannot be counted for multitude.

⁹ So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge and rule this Your great people?^(A)

¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.

¹¹ God said to him, Because you have asked this and have not asked for long life or for riches, nor for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to recognize what is just and right,

¹² Behold, I have done as you asked. I have given you a wise, discerning mind, so that no one before you was your equal, nor shall any arise after you equal to you.

¹³ I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings equal to you all your days.

¹⁴ And if you will go My way, keep My statutes and My commandments as your father David did, then I will lengthen your days.

¹² Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.

¹³ Whereupon the Pharisees told Him, You are testifying on Your own behalf; Your testimony is not valid and is worthless.

¹⁴ Jesus answered, Even if I do testify on My own behalf, My testimony is true and reliable and valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.

¹⁵ You [set yourselves up to] judge according to the flesh (by what you see). [You condemn by external, human standards.] I do not [set Myself up to] judge or condemn or sentence anyone.

¹⁶ Yet even if I do judge, My judgment is true [My decision is right]; for I am not alone [in making it], but [there are two of Us] I and the Father, Who sent Me.

¹⁷ In your [own] Law it is written that the testimony (evidence) of two persons is reliable and valid.^(A)

¹⁸ I am One [of the Two] bearing testimony concerning Myself; and My Father, Who sent Me, He also testifies about Me.

¹⁹ Then they said to Him, Where is this ^[a]Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me. If you knew Me, you would know My Father also.