Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
To the Director: To the tune of[a] “The Lilies”. Davidic.
When God Seems Distant
Seeking God for Deliverance
13 As for me, Lord, may my prayer to you come at a favorable time.
God, in the abundance of your gracious love,
answer me with your sure deliverance.
14 Rescue me from the mud
and do not let me sink.
Rescue me from those who hate me,
and from the deep waters.
15 Let neither the floodwaters overwhelm me
nor let the deep swallow me up,
nor the mouth of the well close over me.
16 Answer me, Lord, for your gracious love is good;
Turn to me in keeping with your great compassion,
30 Let me praise the name of God with a song
that I may magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 That will please the Lord
more than oxen and bulls with horns and hooves.
32 The afflicted will watch and rejoice.
May you who seek God take courage.
33 For the Lord listens to the needy
and doesn’t despise those in bondage.
34 Let the heavens and earth praise him,
along with the sea and its swarming creatures.[a]
35 For God will deliver Zion
and will rebuild the cities of Judah
so they may live there and possess them.
36 The descendants of his servants will inherit it,
and those who cherish his name will live there.
From Cain to Lamech
17 Later, Cain had sexual relations with[a] his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain[b] founded a city and named it after[c] his son Enoch. 18 Irad was born to Enoch. Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 Later, Lamech married two wives. One was named Adah and the other was named[d] Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who became the ancestor of those who live in tents and herd[e] livestock. 21 His brother was named Jubal; he became the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and the flute. 22 Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, who became a forger of bronze and iron work. Tubal-cain’s sister was Naamah. 23 Lamech told his wives,
“Adah and Zillah, listen to what I have to say:
You wives of Lamech, hear what I’m announcing!
I’ve killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for bruising me.
24 For if Cain is being avenged seven times,
then Lamech will be avenged[f] 77 times.”
25 Later on, after Adam had sexual relations with[g] his wife, she gave birth to a son and named him[h] Seth, because
“God granted[i] me another offspring to replace Abel,
since Cain murdered him.”
26 Seth also fathered a son, whom he named Enosh. At that time, profaning[j] the name of the Lord began.
From Adam to Noah
5 This is the historical record[k] of Adam’s[l] generations.
When[m] God created mankind,[n]
he made them in his own likeness.[o]
2 Creating them male and female,
he blessed them
and called them humans[p]
when[q] he created them.
3 After Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son just like him,[r] that is,[s] according to his own likeness, and named him Seth. 4 Adam lived another 800 years, fathering other[t] sons and daughters after he had fathered Seth. 5 Adam lived a total[u] of 930 years, and then died.
9 What, then, does this mean?[a] Are we Jews[b] any better off? Not at all! For we have already accused everyone, both Jews and Greeks, of being under the power of[c] sin. 10 As it is written,
“Not even one person is righteous.
11 No one understands.
No one searches for God.
12 All have turned away.
They have become completely worthless.
No one shows kindness, not even one person![d]
13 Their throats are open graves.
With their tongues they deceive.[e]
The venom of poisonous snakes is under their lips.[f]
14 Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.[g]
15 They run swiftly[h] to shed blood.
16 Ruin and misery characterize their lives.
17 They have not learned the path to peace.[i]
18 They don’t fear God.[j]
19 Now we know that whatever the Law says applies to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore, God[k] will not justify any human being by means of the actions prescribed by the Law, for through the Law comes the full knowledge of sin.
God Gives Us Righteousness through Faith
21 But now, apart from the Law, God’s righteousness is revealed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets— 22 God’s righteousness through the faithfulness of Jesus[l] the Messiah[m]— for all who believe. For there is no distinction among people,[n]
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