Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Naaman’s Disease Healed
5 Naaman,(A) commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded(B) because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a valiant warrior, but he had a skin disease.(C)
2 Aram had gone on raids(D) and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 Therefore, the king of Aram said, “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.”
So he went and took with him 750 pounds[a] of silver, 150 pounds[b] of gold, and ten sets of clothing.(E) 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, and it read:
When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes(F) and asked, “Am I God,(G) killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Recognize[c] that he is only picking a fight with me.”(H)
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.”(I) 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger,(J) who said, “Go wash(K) seven times(L) in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying, “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand(M) over the place and cure the skin disease. 12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?(N) Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage.(O)
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father,(P) if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” 14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.(Q)
Psalm 30
Joy in the Morning
A psalm; a dedication song for the house. Of David.
1 I will exalt you, Lord,
because you have lifted me up(A)
and have not allowed my enemies
to triumph over me.(B)
2 Lord my God,
I cried to you for help, and you healed me.(C)
3 Lord, you brought me up from Sheol;(D)
you spared me from among those
going down[a] to the Pit.(E)
4 Sing to the Lord, you his faithful ones,
and praise his holy name.(F)
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor, a lifetime.
Weeping may stay overnight,
but there is joy in the morning.(G)
6 When I was secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”(H)
7 Lord, when you showed your favor,
you made me stand like a strong mountain;(I)
when you hid your face, I was terrified.(J)
8 Lord, I called to you;
I sought favor from my Lord:(K)
9 “What gain is there in my death,
if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your truth?(L)
10 Lord, listen and be gracious to me;
Lord, be my helper.”(M)
Carry One Another’s Burdens
6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle(A) spirit,[a](B) watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.(C) 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.(D) 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing,(E) he deceives himself. 4 Let each person examine his own work,(F) and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load.
6 Let the one who is taught the word share(G) all his good things with the teacher.
7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit(A) will reap eternal life(B) from the Spirit. 9 Let us not get tired(C) of doing good,(D) for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work(E) for the good(F) of all, especially for those who belong to the household(G) of faith.(H)
Concluding Exhortation
11 Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. 12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh(I) are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised(J)—but only to avoid being persecuted(K) for the cross(L) of Christ. 13 For even the circumcised don’t keep(M) the law themselves, and yet they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. 14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. 15 For[a] both circumcision and uncircumcision(N) mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.(O) 16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel(P) of God![b]
Sending Out the Seventy-Two
10 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He told them,(A) “The harvest(B) is abundant, but the workers(C) are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.(D) 3 Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves.(E) 4 Don’t carry a money-bag,(F) traveling bag,(G) or sandals; (H) don’t greet anyone along the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace(I) to this household.’ 6 If a person of peace is there, your peace(J) will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages.(K) Don’t move from house to house. 8 When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you.(L) 9 Heal the sick(M) who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God(N) has come near(O) you.’ 10 When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We are wiping off even the dust of your town that clings to our feet as a witness against you.(P) Know this for certain: The kingdom of God has come near.’
16 Whoever listens to you listens to me.(A) Whoever rejects you rejects me.(B) And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”(C)
The Return of the Seventy-Two
17 The seventy-two[a](D) returned with joy, saying,(E) “Lord, even the demons(F) submit to us in your name.”(G)
18 He said to them, “I watched Satan(H) fall from heaven like lightning.(I) 19 Look, I have given you the authority(J) to trample(K) on snakes(L) and scorpions(M) and over all the power of the enemy; (N) nothing at all will harm you.(O) 20 However, don’t rejoice that[b] the spirits (P) submit to you,(Q) but rejoice that your names are written(R) in heaven.”
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