Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
107 Praise the LORD, because He is good; for His mercy endures forever.
2 Let those who have been redeemed by the LORD show how He has delivered them from the hand of the oppressor—
3 and gathered them out of the lands—from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4 They wandered in the desert wilderness, out of the way, and found no city to dwell in.
5 Both hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble. He delivered them from their distress
7 and led them forth by the right way, so that they might go to a city of habitation.
33 He turns the floods to a wilderness, the springs of waters into dryness,
34 a fruitful land into barrenness, because of the wickedness of those who dwell therein.
35 He turns the wilderness into pools of water, and the dry land into water springs.
36 And there He places the hungry; and they build a city in which to dwell,
37 and sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which bring forth fruitful increase.
15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window, for her house was upon the town wall; and she dwelt upon the wall.
16 And she said to them, “Go into the mountain, lest the pursuers encounter you, and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have turned back. Then, afterward, you may go your way.”
17 And the men said to her, “We will be blameless of this oath which you have made us swear
18 if, when we come into the land, you shall bind this cord of red in the window whereby you let us down. And you shall bring your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household home to you.
19 “And whoever then goes out at the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head. And we will be guiltless. But, whoever shall be with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if any hand touches him.
20 “And if you utter this matter, we will be released from your oath which you have made us swear.”
21 And she answered, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away and they departed. And she bound the red cord in the window.
22 And they departed and came into the mountain and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had returned. And the pursuers sought them all along the road but did not find them.
23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua, the son of Nun, and told him all things that happened to them.
24 Also they said to Joshua, “Surely the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands. For all the inhabitants of the country faint because of us.”
13 “Therefore, woe to you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven before man. For you yourselves do not go in, nor do you allow those who wish entrance to come in.
14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, even under a pretense of long prayers. Therefore, you shall receive the greater damnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! For you traverse sea and land to make one proselyte. And when he is made, you make him twofold more a child of Hell than you yourselves!
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the Temple, it is nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the Temple, he sins.’
17 “You fools, and blind! Which is greater, the gold or the Temple that sanctifies the gold?
18 “And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing. But whoever swears by the offering upon it, sins.’
19 “You fools, and blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar which sanctifies the offering?
20 “Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things thereupon.
21 “And whoever swears by the Temple, swears by it and by Him Who dwells therein.
22 “And the one who swears by Heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him Who sits thereupon.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cumin, and leave the weightier matters of the law, judgment, and mercy and fidelity. These you ought to have done, and not to have left the other.
24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! For you make clean the outside of the cup and the platter. But inside they are full of bribery and excess.
26 “You blind Pharisee! First, cleanse the inside of the cup and platter, so that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs which appear beautiful outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all filthiness.
28 “So are you also. For outward you appear righteous to man, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
© 2019, 2024 by Five Talents Audio. All rights reserved.