Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Chapter 2
1 [a]Then Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart rejoices in the Lord,
my horn is lifted high in the Lord.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I rejoice in my salvation.
2 There is no holy one like the Lord,
there is none beside you,
nor is there a rock like our God.
3 [b]Do not talk so proudly
nor let arrogance come forth from your mouth,
for the Lord is a knowing God,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
the feeble are clothed in strength.
5 The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
and the hungry cease to hunger.
The barren has borne seven times,
while she who has many children grows faint.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life.
He brings down to Sheol, and lifts up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles and he also exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust,
and from the refuse he lifts up the beggar,
To seat them among princes,
that they might inherit a throne of glory.
For the Lord’s are the pillars of the earth,
and he has set the world upon them.
9 He will guard the feet of his saints,
but the wicked will be cut off in the darkness,
for by strength none shall prevail.
10 Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered,
he will thunder against them from the heavens,
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth,
He will give strength to his king,
and exalt the horn of his anointed one.”
21 When Elkanah and his household went up to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow, 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Do what you think is best. Stay here until you have weaned him, only may the Lord bring his word to fulfillment.” So the woman stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 Samuel’s Consecration. When she had weaned him, she took him with herself along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was still young. 25 After they sacrificed the bull, they brought the child to Eli. 26 [a]She said, “Oh my lord, as my soul lives, I am the woman who stood beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted the request that I made of him. 28 Therefore, I have dedicated him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there.
11 Fight the Good Fight. But as for you, man of God,[a] you must shun all this. Rather, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, fortitude, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your noble confession[b] of faith in the presence of many witnesses.
13 In the sight of God, who gave life to all things, and before Jesus Christ, who himself made that noble confession of faith in his testimony before Pontius Pilate, I charge you 14 to obey the commands of God without fault or failure until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will make manifest at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only ruler of all, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. 16 He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has seen him or is able to do so. To him be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
17 Right Use of Riches.[c] Instruct those who are rich in this world’s goods that they should not be proud, nor should they trust in the uncertainty of riches but rather in God who richly provides us with everything we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good and to be rich in good works, to be generous in giving and ready to share. 19 In this way, they will acquire the treasure of a good foundation for the future so that they will be able to grasp the life that is true life.
Conclusion[d]
20 Admonition to Timothy. My brother Timothy, guard carefully what has been entrusted to you.[e] Avoid the profane chatter and the contradictions of what is wrongly considered to be knowledge. 21 By professing it some people have strayed far from the faith.
Farewell. Grace be with all of you.[f]
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