Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 139
The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God
For the choir director. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, you have searched me and known me.(A)
2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
you understand my thoughts from far away.(B)
3 You observe my travels and my rest;
you are aware of all my ways.(C)
4 Before a word is on my tongue,
you know all about it, Lord.(D)
5 You have encircled me;
you have placed your hand on me.(E)
6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.(F)
13 For it was you who created my inward parts;[a]
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.(A)
14 I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.[b][c]
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.(B)
15 My bones were not hidden from you
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.(C)
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in your book and planned
before a single one of them began.(D)
Jeremiah’s Plea
14 Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;
save me, and I will be saved,
for you are my praise.(A)
15 Hear how they keep challenging me,(B)
“Where is the word of the Lord?
Let it come!”
16 But I have not run away from being your shepherd,
and I have not longed for the fatal day.(C)
You know my words were spoken in your presence.
17 Don’t become a terror to me.
You are my refuge(D) in the day of disaster.
18 Let my persecutors be put to shame,(E)
but don’t let me be put to shame.
Let them be terrified, but don’t let me be terrified.
Bring on them the day of disaster;(F)
shatter them with total[a] destruction.
Observing the Sabbath
19 This is what the Lord said to me, “Go and stand at the People’s Gate, through which the kings of Judah enter and leave, as well as at all the gates of Jerusalem. 20 Announce to them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the residents of Jerusalem who enter through these gates. 21 This is what the Lord says: Watch yourselves; do not pick up a load and bring it in through Jerusalem’s gates on the Sabbath day.(G) 22 Do not carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day or do any work,(H) but keep the Sabbath day holy, just as I commanded your ancestors.(I) 23 They wouldn’t listen or pay attention but became obstinate,(J) not listening or accepting discipline.
24 “‘However, if you listen to me—this is the Lord’s declaration—and do not bring loads through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but keep the Sabbath day holy and do no work on it, 25 kings and princes will enter through the gates of this city. They will sit on the throne of David;(K) they will ride in chariots and on horses(L) with their officials, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem. This city will be inhabited forever. 26 Then people will come from the cities of Judah and from the area around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the Judean foothills, from the hill country and from the Negev(M) bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, and thanksgiving sacrifices to the house of the Lord. 27 But if you do not listen to me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, I will set fire to its gates,(N) and it will consume the citadels(O) of Jerusalem(P) and not be extinguished.’”(Q)
34 Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.(A) 35 For I came to turn
a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and a man’s enemies will be
the members of his household.[a](B)
37 The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; (C) the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Anyone who finds his life will lose it,(D) and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.(E)
A Cup of Cold Water
40 “The one who welcomes you welcomes me,(F) and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.(G) 41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet(H) because he is a prophet[b] will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous[c] will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives(I) even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple,[d](J) truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
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