Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹ ¶ O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good; for his mercy endures for ever.

² Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy

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 lost in the wilderness, alone and out of the way; they found no city to dwell in.

⁵ Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

⁶ Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

⁷ And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

⁸ Oh that men would praise the LORD for his mercy and for his wonderful works unto the sons of Adam!

⁹ For he satisfies the soul that is destitute and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

¹⁰ ¶ Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and in irons,

¹¹ because they rebelled against the words of God and condemned the counsel of the most High:

¹² Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was no one to help.

¹³ Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke their bonds asunder.

¹⁵ Oh that men would praise the LORD for his mercy and for his wonderful works unto the sons of Adam!

¹⁶ For he has broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron asunder.

20 ¶ Then came the sons of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month; and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there.

² And there was no water for the congregation; and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

³ And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying, Oh, that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

⁴ And why have ye caused the congregation of the LORD to come into this wilderness that we and our beasts should die here?

⁵ And why have ye made us to come up out of Egypt to bring us in unto this evil place? It is not a place to plant seed or of figs or of vines or of pomegranates; there is not even any water to drink.

⁶ And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the congregation unto the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, and they fell upon their faces; and the glory of the LORD appeared upon them.

⁷ And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,

⁸ Take the rod and gather the congregation together, thou and Aaron, thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, and it shall give forth its water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock; so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

⁹ Then Moses took the rod from before the LORD as he commanded him.

¹⁰ And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

¹¹ Then Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice; and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

¹² And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the sons of Israel, therefore, ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

¹³ These are the waters of Meribah; over which the sons of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

⁶ ¶ Now these things became types of us, that we should not lust after evil things as they lusted.

⁷ Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.

⁸ Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed and fell dead: in one day, twenty-three thousand.

⁹ Neither let us tempt the Christ, as some of them also tempted and perished by the serpents.

¹⁰ Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured and perished by the destroyer.

¹¹ Now all these things happened unto them as types, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

¹² Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

¹³ No temptation has taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.