Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
מ Mem
97 How I love Your instruction!(A)
It is my meditation all day long.(B)
98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,(C)
for they are always with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers
because Your decrees are my meditation.(D)
100 I understand more than the elders(E)
because I obey Your precepts.(F)
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path(G)
to follow Your word.
102 I have not turned from Your judgments,(H)
for You Yourself have instructed me.
103 How sweet Your word is(I) to my taste—
sweeter than honey in my mouth.
104 I gain understanding from Your precepts;(J)
therefore I hate every false way.(K)
Jeremiah Released
16 Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man doesn’t deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of Yahweh our God!”
17 Some of the elders of the land stood up(A) and said to all the assembled people, 18 “Micah the Moreshite(B) prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah(C) and said to all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says:
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become ruins,
and the temple mount a forested hill.’(D)
19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all the people of Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and plead for the Lord’s favor,[a](E) and did not the Lord relent concerning the disaster He had pronounced against them?(F) We are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”
The Prophet Uriah
20 Another man was also prophesying in the name of Yahweh—Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim.(G) He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like all those of Jeremiah. 21 King Jehoiakim, all his warriors, and all the officials heard his words, and the king tried to put him to death. When Uriah heard, he fled in fear and went to Egypt. 22 But King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor(H) and certain other men with him went to Egypt. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who executed him with the sword and threw his corpse into the burial place of the common people.[b]
24 But Ahikam(I) son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
An Approved Worker
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before God[a] not to fight about words;(A) this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.(B) 16 But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness.(C) 17 And their word will spread like gangrene; Hymenaeus(D) and Philetus are among them. 18 They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place,(E) and are overturning the faith of some.(F) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription:(G)
The Lord knows those who are His,(H)[b] and
Everyone who names the name(I) of the Lord
must turn away from unrighteousness.(J)
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls,(K) but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable[c] use, some for dishonorable.[d](L) 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable,[e] he will be a special[f] instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.(M)
22 Flee(N) from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,(O) along with those who call on the Lord(P) from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s(Q) slave must not quarrel,(R) but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,[g] and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness.(S) Perhaps God will grant them repentance(T) leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap,(U) having been captured by him to do his will.(V)
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