Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living by Your Word. 10 I have looked for You with all my heart. Do not let me turn from Your Law. 11 Your Word have I hid in my heart, that I may not sin against You. 12 Great and honored are You, O Lord. Teach me Your Law. 13 I have told with my lips of all the Laws of Your mouth. 14 I have found as much joy in following Your Law as one finds in much riches. 15 I will think about Your Law and have respect for Your ways. 16 I will be glad in Your Law. I will not forget Your Word.
God’s Ten Great Laws
20 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house where you were servants.
3 “Have no gods other than Me.
4 “Do not make for yourselves a god to look like anything that is in heaven above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.
5 “Do not worship them or work for them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. I punish the children, even the great-grandchildren, for the sins of their fathers who hate Me. 6 But I show loving-kindness to thousands of those who love Me and keep My Laws.
7 “Do not use the name of the Lord your God in a false way. For the Lord will punish the one who uses His name in a false way.
8 “Remember the Day of Rest, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you will do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a Day of Rest to the Lord your God. You, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your cattle, or the traveler who stays with you, must not do any work on this day. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is in them. And He rested on the seventh day. So the Lord gave honor to the Day of Rest and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so your life may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you.
13 “Do not kill other people.
14 “Do not do sex sins.
15 “Do not steal.
16 “Do not tell a lie about your neighbor.
17 “Do not have a desire for your neighbor’s house. Do not have a desire for his wife or his male servant, his female servant, or his bull or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 All the people heard and saw the thunder and lightning, the sound of the horn, and the mountain smoking. And when the people saw it, they shook with fear and stood far away. 19 They said to Moses, “You speak to us and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so you may have enough fear of Him to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people stood far away, while Moses came near to the cloud where God was.
Take Hope When Tests Come
2 My Christian brothers, you should be happy when you have all kinds of tests. 3 You know these prove your faith. It helps you not to give up. 4 Learn well how to wait so you will be strong and complete and in need of nothing.
5 If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never say you are wrong for asking. 6 You must have faith as you ask Him. You must not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave which is pushed around by the sea. 7 Such a man will get nothing from the Lord. 8 The man who has two ways of thinking changes in everything he does.
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