Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Comfort in Times of Trouble

77 My voice goes up to God, and I will cry out. My voice goes up to God and He will hear me. ² I looked to the Lord when I was in trouble. I put out my hand at night, and it did not get tired. My soul would not be comforted. ³ When I remember God, then I am troubled. When I am in deep thought, then my spirit becomes weak. ⁴ You keep my eyes from closing. I am so troubled that I cannot speak. ⁵ I have thought about the days of old, the years of long ago. ⁶ I remember my song in the night. I think with my heart. And my spirit asks questions.

⁷ Will the Lord turn away forever? Will He never show favor again? ⁸ Has His loving-kindness stopped forever? Has His promise come to an end for all time? ⁹ Has God forgotten to be loving and kind? Has He in anger taken away His loving-pity? ¹⁰ Then I said, “It is my sorrow that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

¹¹ I will remember the things the Lord has done. Yes, I will remember the powerful works of long ago. ¹² I will think of all Your work, and keep in mind all the great things You have done. ¹³ O God, Your way is holy. What god is great like our God? ¹⁴ You are the God Who does great works. You have shown Your power among the people. ¹⁵ You have set free Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph, with Your strong arm.

¹⁶ The waters saw You, O God. The waters saw You and shook. The sea shook also. ¹⁷ The clouds poured down water. The sky sounded with thunder. Your arrows of lightning went this way and that. ¹⁸ The sound of Your thunder was in the turning wind. The lightning lit up the world. The earth shook. ¹⁹ Your way was through the sea. Your paths went through the powerful waters. And it cannot be known where You stepped. ²⁰ You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

The Wisdom of Agur

30 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ithiel and Ucal:

² For sure, I am more foolish than any man, and I do not have the understanding of a man. ³ I have not learned wisdom, and I do not know much about the Holy One. ⁴ Who has gone up into heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has gathered the waters in His coat? Who has put in place all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? For sure you know!

⁵ Every word of God has been proven true. He is a safe-covering to those who trust in Him. ⁶ Do not add to His words, or He will speak strong words to you and prove you to be a liar.

⁷ Two things I have asked of You. Do not keep me from having them before I die: ⁸ Take lies and what is false far from me. Do not let me be poor or rich. Feed me with the food that I need. ⁹ Then I will not be afraid that I will be full and turn my back against You and say, “Who is the Lord?” And I will not be afraid that I will be poor and steal, and bring shame on the name of my God.

Jesus Was Tempted ^(A)

4 Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to a desert. There He was tempted by the devil. ² Jesus went without food for forty days and forty nights. After that He was hungry. ³ The devil came tempting Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to be made into bread.” ⁴ But Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man is not to live on bread only. Man is to live by every word that God speaks.’” ^(B)

⁵ Then the devil took Jesus up to Jerusalem, the holy city. He had Jesus stand on the highest part of the house of God. ⁶ The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. It is written, ‘He has told His angels to look after You. In their hands they will hold You up. Then Your foot will not hit against a stone.’” ^{(C) 7} Jesus said to the devil, “It is written also, ‘You must not tempt the Lord your God.’” ^(D)

⁸ Again the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain. He had Jesus look at all the nations of the world to see how great they were. ⁹ He said to Jesus, “I will give You all these nations if You will get down at my feet and worship me.” ¹⁰ Jesus said to the devil, “Get away, Satan. It is written, ‘You must worship the Lord your God. You must obey Him only.’” ^{(E) 11} Then the devil went away from Jesus. Angels came and cared for Him.