Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
148 Praise the LORD from the heavens! Praise Him in the high places!
2 Praise Him, all His angels! Praise Him, all His army!
3 Praise Him, Sun and Moon! Praise Him, all bright stars!
4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the Name of the LORD; for He commanded, and they were created.
6 And He has established them forever and ever. He has made an ordinance which shall not pass.
7 Praise the LORD from the Earth, you dragons and all depths:
8 fire and hail, snow and vapors, stormy wind — which execute His Word —
9 mountains and all hills, fruitful trees, and all cedars,10 beasts and all cattle, creeping things and feathered birds,
11 kings of the Earth and all people, princes and all judges of the world,
12 young men and maidens, also old men and children.
13 Let them praise the Name of the LORD; for only His Name is to be exalted. His praise is above the Earth and the heavens.
14 For He has exalted the horn of His people — a praise for all His saints, for the children of Israel — a people that is near to Him. Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD.
26 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this Word from the LORD, saying,
2 “Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’s House. And speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s House, all the words that I Command you to speak to them. Do not hold back a Word.
3 ‘Perhaps they will listen, and everyone will turn from his evil way, so that I may relent from the plague which I have determined to bring upon them because of the wickedness of their works.
4 ‘And you shall say to them, “Thus says the LORD: ‘If you will not hear Me, to walk in My Law which I have set before you,
5 ‘and to hear the words of My servants, the Prophets, whom I sent you (both rising up early and sending), and will not obey,
6 ‘Then I will make this House like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all nations of the Earth.’”’”
7 So the priests and the Prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the House of the LORD.
8 Now when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had Commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the Prophets and all the people took him, and said, “You shall die the death!
9 “Why have you prophesied in the Name of the LORD, saying, ‘This House shall be like Shiloh, and ‘This city shall be desolate without an inhabitant?’” And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the House of the LORD.
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and to all the people, saying, “The LORD has sent me to prophesy all the things that you have heard against this House and against this city.
13 “Therefore, now, amend your ways and your works and hear the Voice of the LORD your God, so that the LORD may relent from the plague that He has pronounced against you.
14 “As for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as you think good and right.
15 “But know for certain that if you put me to death, you shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and upon its inhabitants. For truly the LORD has sent me to you, to speak all these words in your ears.”
8 Now Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain ones out of the synagogue who are called ‘Freedmen’ – as well as Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and ones from Cilicia and Asia - and disputed with Stephen.
10 But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they incited men, who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God!”
12 Thus they moved the people and the elders, and the scribes. And running after him, caught him, and brought him to the Council.
13 And they set forth false witnesses, who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law!
14 “For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the ordinances which Moses gave us!”
15 And as all who sat in the Council looked steadfastly at him, they saw his face as the face of an angel.
51 “You stiff-necked! With uncircumcised hearts and ears! You have always resisted the Holy Ghost. As your fathers did, so do you!
52 “Which of the Prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they have killed those who foretold of the coming of the Just One, Of Whom you are now the betrayers and murderers.
53 “Who have received the law by the ordinance of angels and have not kept it.”
54 And when they heard these things, they were cut to the quick. And they gnashed at him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the Glory of God; and Jesus, standing at the right hand of God,
56 and said, “Behold, I see the heavens open! And the Son of Man, standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him violently all at once,
58 and cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, who called out, saying, “Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit!”
60 And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord! Do not lay this sin to their charge!” And when he had spoken this, he slept.
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