Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
ה He
33 Teach me, Lord, the meaning[a] of Your statutes,
and I will always keep them.[b](A)
34 Help me understand Your instruction,(B)
and I will obey it
and follow it with all my heart.(C)
35 Help me stay on the path of Your commands,(D)
for I take pleasure in it.(E)
36 Turn my heart to Your decrees(F)
and not to material gain.(G)
37 Turn my eyes
from looking at what is worthless;(H)
give me life in Your ways.[c](I)
38 Confirm what You said to Your servant,(J)
for it produces reverence for You.
39 Turn away the disgrace I dread;(K)
indeed, Your judgments are good.
40 How I long for Your precepts!(L)
Give me life through Your righteousness.
Laws Protecting the Vulnerable
21 “You must not exploit a foreign resident(A) or oppress him, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
22 “You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.(B) 23 If you do mistreat them, they will no doubt cry to Me, and I will certainly hear their cry.(C) 24 My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.(D)
25 “If you lend money to My people, to the poor person among you, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest.(E)
26 “If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him before sunset. 27 For it is his only covering; it is the clothing for his body.[a] What will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will listen because I am compassionate.(F)
Christian Liberty
23 “Everything is permissible,”[a][b] but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,”[c] but not everything builds up. 24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.(A)
25 Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake, 26 for the earth is the Lord’s,(B) and all that is in it.(C)[d] 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it,(D) out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake.[e] 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged(E) by another person’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thanks,(F) why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.(G) 32 Give no offense(H) to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, 33 just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,(I) so that they may be saved. 11 1 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.(J)
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