Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
He: That You May Be Feared
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes.
Then I will guard it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I will guard your law.
I will keep it with all my heart.
35 Make me walk on the path of your commandments,
for I take pleasure in it.
36 Direct my heart toward your testimonies
and not toward material gain.
37 Keep my eyes from looking at worthless things.
Give me life according to your ways.[a]
38 Confirm your sayings to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
39 Take away my disgrace which I dread,
for your judgments are good.
40 How I long for your precepts!
Give me life in your righteousness.
21 You shall not wrong a resident alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
22 You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you take advantage of them in any way, and they make even the faintest cry to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows, and your children fatherless.
25 If you lend money to anyone among my people who is poor, you must not act like a moneylender. You must not charge him interest. 26 If you take your neighbor’s outer garment as collateral, you must restore it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for his garment is the only cover he has for his skin. What would he sleep in? Be assured that when he cries to me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
Live for the Good of Others and for the Glory of God
23 “Everything is permitted”[a]—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permitted”—but not everything builds up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of others. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without asking questions for the sake of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[b] 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat whatever you are served without asking questions for the sake of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This is from a sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.[c] 29 I mean the other person’s conscience, not your own. For why is my freedom judged by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I eat the food with thankfulness, why am I criticized for something for which I give thanks?
31 So whether you eat or drink, or do anything else, do everything to the glory of God. 32 Do not give offense to Jews, or Greeks, or God’s church, 33 just as I also try to please all people in all things, by not seeking what is best for me but for the many, so that they may be saved. 11 1 Be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.