Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 11
Faith, Not Flight
Heading
For the choir director. By David.
The Fear of the Fainthearted
1 In the Lord I take refuge.
How can you say to my soul:
“Flee to your mountain like a bird.
2 Look! The wicked bend their bow.
They set their arrow against the string
to shoot in the darkness at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being torn down,
what can the righteous do?”
David’s Answer
4 The Lord is in his holy temple.
The Lord is on his throne in heaven.
His eyes observe.
He focuses on[a] the children of Adam.[b]
5 The Lord is righteous.
He examines the wicked.
He really hates[c] those who love violence.
6 On the wicked he will rain down fiery coals and sulfur.[d]
A scorching wind will be the cup given to them.
7 Indeed, the Lord is righteous. He loves righteousness.
The upright will view his face.
The Construction of the Temple
6 In the four hundred eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month named Ziv,[a] which is the second month, Solomon began to build the house for the Lord.
2 The house which King Solomon built for the Lord was ninety feet long, thirty feet wide, and forty-five feet high.[b] 3 The porch[c] in front of the temple building[d] was thirty feet wide, the same as the width of the building. It extended out fifteen feet from the front of the building.
4 He made latticed windows[e] high on the walls of the building.
5 He added a structure along the outer walls of the building, all the way around the three sides of the building. It was built against the walls of both the front room[f] and the inner room[g] of the sanctuary. In this structure he constructed three levels of storage rooms, all the way around the building. 6 The width of the rooms on the lowest story was seven and a half feet. The rooms of the middle story were nine feet wide, and the rooms of the third story were ten and a half feet wide, because he had built three receding ledges into the outside wall of the temple building all the way around, so that the floor beams of each story would not have to be inserted into the walls of the main building.
7 While the building was under construction, only stones that had been finished at the quarry were used in the building. No hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the building while it was under construction. 8 The entrance into the lowest story[h] of the side rooms was on the south side[i] of the building. Winding stairs[j] went up to the middle floor, and also from the middle floor to the third floor. 9 So Solomon finished building the house, and he covered[k] the house with beams and planks of cedar. 10 He built the floors for the storerooms that were all around the house. Each story was seven and a half feet high. Each story was supported by cedar timbers which rested on the receding ledges constructed along the walls of the building.[l]
11 The word of the Lord came to Solomon. He said, 12 “In regard to this house which you are building, if you walk according to my statutes and carry out my ordinances and keep all my commands by walking according to them, you will be the one through whom I will fulfill my promise which I spoke to your father David. 13 I will dwell among the descendants of Israel, and I will not forsake my people Israel.”
14 So Solomon finished building the house.
Final Comments
21 Tychicus, our dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, that you may know how we are, and that he may comfort your hearts. 23 Peace to the brothers,[a] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have an undying[b] love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.[c]
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.