Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Refuge in the Lord
For the choir director. Of David.
11 I have taken refuge in the Lord.(A)
How can you say to me,
‘Escape to the mountains[a] like a bird!(B)
2 For look, the wicked string bows;
they put their arrows on bowstrings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.(C)
3 When the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do? ’(D)
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;(E)
the Lord – his throne is in heaven.(F)
His eyes watch;
his gaze[b] examines everyone.[c]
5 The Lord examines the righteous,
but he hates the wicked
and[d] those who love violence.(G)
6 Let him rain burning coals[e] and sulphur on the wicked;
let a scorching wind be the portion in their cup.(H)
7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds.
The upright will see his face.(I)
Building the Temple
6 Solomon began to build the temple for the Lord in the four hundred and eightieth year(A) after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of his reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month.[a](B) 2 The temple that King Solomon built for the Lord(C) was 27 metres[b] long, 9 metres[c] wide, and 13.5 metres[d] high.(D) 3 The portico in front of the temple sanctuary was 9 metres long extending across the temple’s width, and 4.5 metres deep[e] in front of the temple.(E) 4 He also made windows with bevelled frames[f] for the temple.(F)
5 He then built a chambered structure[g] along the temple wall, encircling the walls of the temple, that is, the sanctuary and the inner sanctuary.(G) And he made side chambers[h] all round.(H) 6 The lowest chamber was 2.25 metres[i] wide, the middle was 2.7 metres[j] wide, and the third was 3.15 metres[k] wide. He also provided offset ledges for the temple all round the outside so that nothing would be inserted into the temple walls. 7 The temple’s construction used finished stones cut at the quarry so that no hammer, chisel, or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.(I)
8 The door for the lowest[l] side chamber was on the right side of the temple. They[m] went up a stairway[n] to the middle chamber, and from the middle to the third. 9 When he finished building the temple,(J) he panelled it with boards and planks of cedar. 10 He built the chambers along the entire temple, joined to the temple with cedar beams;(K) each storey was 2.25 metres high.
11 The word of the Lord came to Solomon:(L) 12 ‘As for this temple you are building – if you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep all my commands by walking in them,(M) I will fulfil my promise to you, which I made to your father David.(N) 13 I will dwell among the Israelites and not abandon my people Israel.’(O)
Paul’s Farewell
21 Tychicus,(A) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant[a] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage(B) your hearts.(C)
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father(D) and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.[b][c]
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