Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

²⁰ He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia.

36 Eliu also proceeded, and said:

² Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to speak in God's behalf.

³ I will repeat my knowledge from the beginning, and I will prove my Maker just.

⁴ For indeed my words are without a lie, and perfect knowledge shall be proved to thee.

⁵ God doth not cast away the mighty, whereas he himself also is mighty.

⁶ But he saveth not the wicked, and he giveth judgment to the poor.

⁷ He will not take away his eyes from the just, and he placeth kings on the throne for ever, and they are exalted.

⁸ And if they shall be in chains, and be bound with the cords of poverty:

⁹ He shall shew them their works, and their wicked deeds, because they have been violent.

¹⁰ He also shall open their ear, to correct them: and shall speak, that they may return from iniquity.

¹¹ If they shall hear and observe, they shall accomplish their days in good, and their years in glory.

¹² But if they hear not, they shall pass by the sword, and shall be consumed in folly.

¹³ Dissemblers and crafty men prove the wrath of God, neither shall they cry when they are bound.

¹⁴ Their soul shall die in a storm, and their life among the effeminate.

¹⁵ He shall deliver the poor out of his distress, and shall open his ear in affliction.

¹⁶ Therefore he shall set thee at large out of the narrow mouth, and which hath no foundation under it: and the rest of thy table shall be full of fatness.

¹⁷ Thy cause hath been judged as that of the wicked, cause and judgment thou shalt recover.

¹⁸ Therefore let not anger overcome thee to oppress any man: neither let multitude of gifts turn thee aside.

¹⁹ Lay down thy greatness without tribulation, and all the mighty of strength.

²⁰ Prolong not the night that people may come up for them.

²¹ Beware thou turn not aside to iniquity: for this thou hast begun to follow after misery.

²² Behold, God is high in his strength, and none is like him among the lawgivers.

²³ Who can search out his ways? or who can say to him: Thou has wrought iniquity?

9 Am not I free? Am not I an apostle? Have not I seen Christ Jesus our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord?

² And if unto others I be not an apostle, but yet to you I am. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ My defence with them that do examine me is this.

⁴ Have not we power to eat and to drink?

⁵ Have we not power to carry about a woman, a sister, as well as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

⁶ Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to do this?

⁷ Who serveth as a soldier at any time, at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Who feedeth the flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

⁸ Speak I these things according to man? Or doth not the law also say these things?

⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses: Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

¹⁰ Or doth he say this indeed for our sakes? For these things are written for our sakes: that he that plougheth, should plough in hope; and he that thrasheth, in hope to receive fruit.

¹¹ If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we reap your carnal things?

¹² If others be partakers of this power over you, why not we rather? Nevertheless, we have not used this power: but we bear all things, lest we should give any hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

¹³ Know you not, that they who work in the holy place, eat the things that are of the holy place; and they that serve the altar, partake with the altar?

¹⁴ So also the Lord ordained that they who preach the gospel, should live by the gospel.

¹⁵ But I have used none of these things. Neither have I written these things, that they should be so done unto me: for it is good for me to die, rather than that any man should make my glory void.

¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, it is no glory to me, for a necessity lieth upon me: for woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.