Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
11 Teach me your ways, Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
let me wholeheartedly[a] revere your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole being;
and I will honor your name continuously.
13 For great is your gracious love to me;
you’ve delivered me from the depths of Sheol.[b]
14 God, arrogant men rise up against me,
while a company of ruthless individuals want to kill me.
They do not have regard for you.[c]
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate God,
merciful and patient,[d]
with unending gracious love and faithfulness.
16 Return to me and have mercy on me;
clothe your servant with your strength
and deliver the son of your maid servant.
17 Show me a sign of your goodness,
so that those who hate me will see it and be ashamed.
For you, Lord, will help and comfort me.
18 For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Just as my anger and my wrath were poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so my wrath will be poured out on you when you enter Egypt. You will be a curse and an object of horror, ridicule, and scorn, and you will never again see this place.’ 19 The Lord has told you, remnant of Judah, ‘Don’t go to Egypt!’ So be fully aware that I’ve warned you, today, 20 that you have deceived yourselves. Indeed, you yourselves sent me to the Lord your God, saying, ‘Pray to the Lord your God for us, and whatever the Lord our God tells us we will do.’ 21 I’ve told you today, but you haven’t obeyed the Lord your God in all that he sent me to tell[a] you. 22 Now, be fully aware that you will die by the sword, by famine, and by plague in the place where you want to settle.”[b]
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples(A)
5 These were the Twelve whom Jesus sent out after he had given them these[a] instructions: “Don’t turn on to the road that leads to the unbelievers,[b] and don’t enter Samaritan towns. 6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation[c] of Israel. 7 As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom from[d] heaven is near!’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
You have received without payment,
so give without payment.
9 Don’t take any gold, silver, or copper in your moneybags, 10 or a traveling bag for the trip, or an extra shirt,[e] or sandals, or a walking stick, because a worker deserves his food.
11 “Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is receptive[f] in it and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet its occupants.[g] 13 If the household is receptive,[h] let your blessing of peace come on it. But if it isn’t receptive,[i] let your blessing of peace return to you. 14 If no one welcomes you or listens to your words, as you leave that house or town, shake its dust off your feet. 15 I tell all of you[j] with certainty, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!”
Future Persecutions(B)
16 “Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers.[k] 19 When they hand you over, don’t worry about how you are to speak[l] or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. 20 It won’t be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through[m] you.
21 “Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. 23 So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell all of you[n] with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
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