Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 34^[a]

Presence of God, Protector of the Righteous

¹ Of David. When he pretended to be mad before Abimelech, who forced him to depart.^[b]

The Deeds of Nehemiah

Chapter 1

Nehemiah’s Vocation. ¹ The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah.

In the month of Kislev,^[a] in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, ² Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews—those who had survived the captivity—and about Jerusalem.

³ They replied: “Those who survived the captivity and remained in the province are in dire distress and badly demoralized. The wall of Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire.” ⁴ Upon hearing this, I sat down and wept,^[b] mourning for several days while fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

⁵ Then I offered this prayer: “O Lord, God of heaven, you are a great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of steadfast love with those who love him and obey his commandments. ⁶ Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to heed the prayer of your servant that I now offer to you day and night in your presence on behalf of your servants, the people of Israel.

“I confess the sins that your servants, the Israelites, have committed against you. I and my family are equally guilty in this regard. ⁷ We have offended you grievously and failed to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the laws you enjoined on your servant Moses.

⁸ “Do not fail to remember the promise you made to your servant Moses when you said: ‘If you are unfaithful, I shall scatter you among the nations. ⁹ However, if you return to me and obey my commandments and fulfill them, then I will gather even those among you who have been scattered to the farthest ends of the world and bring you back to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.’

¹⁰ “These are your servants, your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. ¹¹ O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the humble prayer of your servants who take delight in revering your name. Grant that your servant will be given success this day and win this man’s compassion”—for at that time I was cupbearer to the king.^[c]

¹¹ Another High Priest according to the Order of Melchizedek.^[a] If perfection was therefore achieved through the Levitical priesthood, on the basis of which the Law was given to the people, what need would there have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek rather than one according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when there is any change in the priesthood, there must also be a change in the Law.

¹³ Now the one about whom these things were said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is clear that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing in regard to priests.

¹⁵ This becomes even more obvious now that another priest has arisen, one like Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who was one not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is attested of him:

¹⁸ The earlier commandment is abrogated because of its weakness and ineffectiveness, ¹⁹ since the Law brought nothing to perfection. On the other hand, a better hope is introduced through which we draw nearer to God.

²⁰ This was confirmed by an oath. When others became priests, no oath was required, ²¹ but this one became a priest with the swearing of an oath by the one who said to him,

²² Accordingly, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.