Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Israel Invoked to Praise the Lord.
149 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a (A)new song,
And His praise (B)in the congregation of the godly ones.
2 Let Israel be glad in (C)his Maker;
Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their (D)King.
3 Let them praise His name with (E)dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with (F)timbrel and lyre.
4 For the Lord (G)takes pleasure in His people;
He will (H)beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.
5 Let the (I)godly ones exult in glory;
Let them (J)sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the (K)high praises of God be in their [c]mouth,
And a (L)two-edged (M)sword in their hand,
7 To (N)execute vengeance on the nations
And punishment on the peoples,
8 To bind their kings (O)with chains
And their (P)nobles with fetters of iron,
9 To (Q)execute on them the judgment written;
This is an (R)honor for all His godly ones.
[d]Praise [e]the Lord!
Darkness over the Land
21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(A)Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness (B)which may be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was (C)thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, (D)but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings. 24 Then Pharaoh (E)called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even (F)your little ones may go with you.” 25 But Moses said, “You must also [a]let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may [b]sacrifice them to the Lord our God. 26 (G)Therefore, our livestock too shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we shall take some of them to serve the Lord our God. And until we arrive there, we ourselves do not know with what we shall serve the Lord.” 27 But (H)the Lord [c]hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “(I)Get away from me! [d]Beware, do not see my face again, for in the day you see my face you shall die!” 29 Moses said, “You are right; (J)I shall never see your face again!”
15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “(A)How beautiful are the feet of those who [a](B)bring good news of good things!”
16 However, they (C)did not all heed the [b]good news; for Isaiah says, “(D)Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from (E)hearing, and hearing by (F)the word [c]of Christ.
18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have;
19 But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says,
“(H)I will (I)make you jealous by that which is not a nation,
By a nation without understanding will I anger you.”
20 And Isaiah is very bold and says,
“(J)I was found by those who did not seek Me,
I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 But as for Israel He says, “(K)All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.