Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

3 LORD, how my adversaries are increased? How many rise against me?

² Many say to my soul, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah.

³ But You, LORD, are a buckler for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

⁴ I called to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me out of His Holy Mountain. Selah.

⁵ I laid down and slept; and rose up again. For the LORD sustained me.

⁶ I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who should beset me all around.

⁷ O LORD, arise! Help me, my God! For You have struck all my enemies upon the cheekbone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ Salvation belongs to the LORD. And Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah. To him who excels on Neginoth: A Psalm of David.

⁵ “And you shall answer and say before the LORD your God, ‘A Syrian, my father, being ready to perish, went down into Egypt and sojourned there with a small company, and there grew to a great nation, mighty and full of people.

⁶ ‘And the Egyptians troubled us, and afflicted us, and laid cruel bondage upon us.

⁷ ‘But when we cried to the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice and looked on our adversity, and on our labor, and on our oppression.

⁸ ‘And the LORD brought us out of Egypt in a mighty Hand and outstretched Arm, with great terribleness, both in signs and wonders.

⁹ ‘And He has brought us into this place and has given us this land, a land that flows with milk and honey.

¹⁰ ‘And now, lo, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which you, O LORD, have given me.’ And you shall set it before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God.

³² Now call to remembrance the days that are passed in which - after you had received light - you endured a great fight in afflictions;

³³ partly while you were made a spectacle by both reproaches and afflictions and partly while you became companions of those who were so tossed to and fro.

³⁴ For you sorrowed with me for my bonds; and also joyfully suffered the plundering of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have a better and an enduring substance in Heaven.

³⁵ Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

³⁶ For you need patience, so that after you have done the will of God you might receive the promise.

³⁷ For yet a very little while and He Who shall come, will come, and will not wait.

³⁸ For “The just shall live by faith. But if anyone withdraws himself, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

³⁹ However, we are not those who withdraw into destruction, but those who follow faith to the preservation of the soul.