Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

6 ¶ Hear ye now what the LORD saith: Arise, contend thou with the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

² Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will reprove Israel.

³ O my people, what have I done unto thee? and in what have I wearied thee? testify against me.

⁴ For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt and ransomed thee out of the house of slaves; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

⁵ O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal: that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

⁶ ¶ With what shall I present myself before the LORD, and how shall I worship the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

⁷ Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my rebellion, the fruit of my bowels for the sin of my soul?

⁸ He has declared unto thee, O man, what is good and what the LORD requires of thee: only to do right judgment, and to love mercy, and to humble thyself to walk with thy God.

A Psalm of David.

¹ ¶ LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in the mountain of thy holiness?

² He that walks in integrity and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.

³ He that does not backbite with his tongue nor does evil to his neighbour nor takes up a reproach against his neighbour.

⁴ In whose eyes the vile person is not esteemed; but he honours those that fear the LORD. He that swears to his own hurt and does not change.

⁵ He that does not put out his money to usury nor takes a bribe against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved.

¹⁸ For the word of the cross {Gr. stauros – stake} is foolishness to those that perish, but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God.

¹⁹ For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

²⁰ Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the philosopher of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

²¹ For in the wisdom of God, since the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those that believe.

²² For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom,

²³ but we preach Christ crucified, {Gr. Stauroo – hung on a stake} unto the Jews a stumblingblock and unto the Gentiles foolishness;

²⁴ but unto those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

²⁵ For that which is foolish of God is wiser than men, and that which is weak of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For look upon your vocation, brothers, that ye are not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,

²⁷ but rather God has chosen that which is the foolishness of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen that which is the weakness of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

²⁸ and that which is vile of the world and that which is despised God has chosen, and things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are,

²⁹ that no flesh should glory in his presence.

³⁰ But of him ye are reborn in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

³¹ that, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

5 ¶ And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain; and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him;

² and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

³ ¶ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

⁴ Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

¹¹ Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.

¹² Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in the heavens; for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.