Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Israel’s Rebelliousness and the Lord’s Deliverances.
106 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
Oh (A)give thanks to the Lord, for He (B)is good;
For (C)His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Who can speak of the (D)mighty deeds of the Lord,
Or can show forth all His praise?
3 How blessed are those who keep [c]justice,
[d]Who (E)practice righteousness at all times!
19 They (A)made a calf in Horeb
And worshiped a molten image.
20 Thus they (B)exchanged their glory
For the image of an ox that eats grass.
21 They (C)forgot God their Savior,
Who had done (D)great things in Egypt,
22 [a](E)Wonders in the land of Ham
And awesome things by the [b]Red Sea.
23 Therefore (F)He said that He would destroy them,
Had not (G)Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him,
To turn away His wrath from destroying them.
People Affirm Their Covenant with God
24 Then He said to Moses, “(A)Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, (B)Nadab and Abihu and (C)seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. 2 Moses alone, however, shall come near to the Lord, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him.”
3 Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the Lord and all the [a]ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “(D)All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” 4 (E)Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an (F)altar [b]at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young men of the sons of Israel, (G)and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 (H)Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took (I)the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “(J)All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” 8 So (K)Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold (L)the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has [c]made with you [d]in accordance with all these words.”
Serve God Willingly
5 (A)Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your (B)fellow elder and (C)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a (D)partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd (E)the flock of God among you, exercising oversight (F)not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and (G)not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as (H)lording it over [a]those allotted to your charge, but [b]proving to be (I)examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief (J)Shepherd appears, you will receive the (K)unfading [c](L)crown of glory. 5 (M)You younger men, likewise, (N)be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with (O)humility toward one another, for (P)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
12 Through (A)Silvanus, our faithful brother [a](for so I regard him), (B)I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is (C)the true grace of God. (D)Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, (E)Mark. 14 (F)Greet one another with a kiss of love.
(G)Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.