Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
A Prayer for Victory
20 May the Lord answer you in the day of distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob[a] protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary,
and may he sustain you from Zion.
3 May he remember all your gifts,
and may he accept your burnt offerings.
4 May he give you what your heart desires,
and may he fulfill all your plans.
5 May we shout for joy at your deliverance
and unfurl our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
6 Now I know that the Lord has delivered his anointed;
he has answered him from his sanctuary
with the strength of his right hand of deliverance.
7 Some boast[b] in chariots,
others in horses;
but we will boast in[c] the name of the Lord our God.
8 While they bowed down and fell,
we arose and stood upright.
9 Deliver us, Lord!
Answer us, our King,[d] on the day we cry out!
The Lord’s Instructions for Setting up the Tent
40 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “On the first day of the first month you are to set up the tent of the Tent of Meeting. 3 You are to put the Ark of the Testimony there, and screen off the ark with the curtain. 4 You are to bring in the table and properly arrange what goes on it.[a] Then you are to bring in the lamp stand and set up its lamps.
5 “You are to put the golden altar for incense in front of the Ark of the Testimony and then set up the screen for the doorway to the tent. 6 You are to put the altar for burnt offerings in front of the doorway of the tent of the Tent of Meeting. 7 You are to put the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it.[b] 8 You are to set up the court all around, and hang up the screen for the gate of the court. 9 You are to take the anointing oil and anoint the tent and all that is in it. You are to consecrate it and all its furnishings and it will be holy.
10 “You are to anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all its utensils. You are to consecrate the altar and the altar will be most holy. 11 You are to anoint the basin and its base and consecrate it. 12 Then you are to bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water. 13 You are to clothe Aaron with the holy garments, you are to anoint him, and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. 14 You are to bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. 15 You are to anoint them just as you anointed their father so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing is to qualify them[c] to belong to a perpetual priesthood from generation to generation.”
How We Should Live
19 Therefore, my brothers, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21 and since we have a great high priest over the household of God, 22 let us continue to come near with sincere hearts in the full assurance that faith provides, because our hearts have been sprinkled clean from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful. 24 And let us continue to consider how to motivate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another even more as you see the day of the Lord[a] coming nearer.
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