Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Lord Is Good to His People

99 The Lord rules! Let the people shake in fear! He sits on His throne above the angels. Let the earth shake! ² The Lord is great in Zion. And He is honored above all people. ³ Let them praise Your great name. It is to be honored with fear. He is holy!

⁴ The strength of the King loves what is right. You have set up what is fair. You do what is right and fair in Jacob. ⁵ Honor the Lord our God. Worship at His feet. For He is holy!

⁶ Moses and Aaron were among His religious leaders. And Samuel was among those who called on His name. They called upon the Lord, and He answered them. ⁷ He spoke to them from the cloud. They kept His Word and the Law that He gave them. ⁸ O Lord our God, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them. But You punished them for their wrong-doing. ⁹ Honor the Lord our God. And worship at His holy mountain. For the Lord our God is holy!

The Work Finished

³² So all the work of the holy tent, the meeting tent, was finished. The sons of Israel did all that the Lord had told Moses. ³³ They brought the meeting tent to Moses, the tent and all its objects, its hooks, all kinds of pieces of wood, pillars and bases. ³⁴ They brought the covering of rams’ skins made red, the covering of badgers’ skins, and the curtain to hang in front of the most holy place. ³⁵ They brought the special box of the agreement, its long pieces of wood for carrying it and its mercy-seat, ³⁶ the table and all its objects, the bread to be put before the Lord, ³⁷ the pure gold lamp-stand with its lamps, all its objects and the oil for the light. ³⁸ They brought the gold altar, the oil for holy use, the sweet-smelling perfume, and the curtain for the door of the meeting tent. ³⁹ They brought the brass altar, its brass net, its long pieces of wood for carrying it and all its objects, the washing pot and its stand, ⁴⁰ the curtains for the open space, its pillars and bases, the curtain for the gate of the open space, its ropes and nails, and all the tools for the work of the meeting tent. ⁴¹ They brought the clothing for the work in the holy place, the holy clothing for Aaron the religious leader, and the clothing of his sons for their work as religious leaders. ⁴² So the people of Israel did all the work just as the Lord had told Moses. ⁴³ Moses looked at all the work and saw they had done it just as the Lord had said. So Moses gave thanks and prayed that good would come to them.

John the Baptist Is Put in Prison ^(A)

14 At that time King Herod heard much about Jesus. ² He said to his helpers, “This must be John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead. That is why these powerful works are done by him.” ³ For Herod had taken John and put him in prison. It was because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. ⁴ For John had said to him, “It is against the Law for you to have her.” ⁵ He would have killed John but he was afraid of the people. The people thought John was one who spoke for God.

John the Baptist Is Killed ^(B)

⁶ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced in front of them. Herod was made happy by her. ⁷ He promised he would give her anything she asked. ⁸ Because her mother told her to do it, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate.” ⁹ The king was sorry. But he said for it to be given because he had promised and because of those who were eating with him. ¹⁰ He sent to the prison and had John’s head cut off. ¹¹ It was brought in on a plate and given to the girl. She brought it to her mother. ¹² Then the followers of John came and took his body and buried it. They went and told Jesus.