Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
105 Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have promised that I will keep Your Law. And I will add strength to this promise. 107 I am in much suffering. O Lord, give me life again by Your Word. 108 Take my willing gift of thanks, O Lord, and teach me Your Law. 109 My life is always in my hand, yet I do not forget Your Law. 110 The sinful have set a trap for me, yet I have not turned from Your Law. 111 I have been given Your Law forever. It is the joy of my heart. 112 I have set my heart on obeying Your Law forever, even to the end.
6 Go to the ant, O lazy person. Watch and think about her ways, and be wise. 7 She has no leader, head or ruler, 8 but she gets her food ready in the summer, and gathers her food at the right time. 9 How long will you lie down, O lazy person? When will you rise up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and being poor will come upon you like a robber, and your need like a man ready to fight.
12 A person of no worth, a sinful man, is he who goes about telling lies. 13 He winks with his eyes, makes signs with his feet, and makes certain moves with his fingers. 14 He always plans to do sinful things because of his sinful heart. He causes arguing among people. 15 So trouble will come upon him all at once. Right then he will be broken, and there will be no healing.
16 There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven that are hated by Him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that kill those who are without guilt, 18 a heart that makes sinful plans, feet that run fast to sin, 19 a person who tells lies about someone else, and one who starts fights among brothers.
20 My son, keep the teaching of your father, and do not turn away from the teaching of your mother. 21 Hold them always to your heart. Tie them around your neck. 22 They will lead you when you walk. They will watch over you when you sleep, and they will talk with you when you wake up. 23 For the word is a lamp. The teaching is a light, and strong words that punish are the way of life.
Jesus Teaches about the Light of the World
12 Jesus spoke to all the people, saying, “I am the Light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will not walk in darkness. He will have the Light of Life.”
13 The proud religious law-keepers said to Him, “You are talking about Yourself. What You say about Yourself is not true.”
14 Jesus said, “Even if I speak of Myself, what I am saying is true. I know where I came from and where I am going. You do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You say as a man would say if people are guilty or not guilty. I am not saying anyone is guilty. 16 But even if I did, it would be true. I am not alone. The Father Who sent Me is with Me. 17 It is written in your Law that when two men agree about something, it proves it is true. (A) 18 I speak for Myself and the Father Who sent Me speaks for Me.”
19 The proud religious law-keepers asked Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus said, “You do not know Me or My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”
20 Jesus spoke these words near the money box while He taught in the house of God. No one put his hands on Jesus because His time had not yet come.
Jesus Tells of His Going Away
21 Jesus spoke to the Jews again, saying, “I am going away. You will look for Me but you will die in your sins. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 The Jews said, “Will He kill Himself because He said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”
23 He answered them, “You are from below. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins. If you do not believe that I am the Christ, you will die in your sins.”
25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus answered, “The answer is the same as I told you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you. I must say if you are guilty. But He Who sent Me is true. I tell the world the things I have heard from Him.”
27 They did not understand that Jesus was speaking to them about the Father. 28 Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, you will know that I am the Christ. I do nothing of Myself. I say these things as My Father has taught Me. 29 He that sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone. I always do what He wants Me to do.” 30 As Jesus said these things, many people put their trust in Him.
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