Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 40[a](A)
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently(B) for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.(C)
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,(D)
out of the mud(E) and mire;(F)
he set my feet(G) on a rock(H)
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song(I) in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord(J)
and put their trust(K) in him.
4 Blessed is the one(L)
who trusts in the Lord,(M)
who does not look to the proud,(N)
to those who turn aside to false gods.[b](O)
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders(P) you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare(Q) with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many(R) to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—(S)
but my ears you have opened[c]—(T)
burnt offerings(U) and sin offerings[d] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.[e](V)
8 I desire to do your will,(W) my God;(X)
your law is within my heart.”(Y)
15 This is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says:
“Go, say to this steward,
to Shebna(A) the palace(B) administrator:(C)
16 What are you doing here and who gave you permission
to cut out a grave(D) for yourself(E) here,
hewing your grave on the height
and chiseling your resting place in the rock?
17 “Beware, the Lord is about to take firm hold of you
and hurl(F) you away, you mighty man.
18 He will roll you up tightly like a ball
and throw(G) you into a large country.
There you will die
and there the chariots(H) you were so proud of
will become a disgrace to your master’s house.
19 I will depose you from your office,
and you will be ousted(I) from your position.(J)
20 “In that day(K) I will summon my servant,(L) Eliakim(M) son of Hilkiah. 21 I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash(N) around him and hand your authority(O) over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. 22 I will place on his shoulder(P) the key(Q) to the house of David;(R) what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.(S) 23 I will drive him like a peg(T) into a firm place;(U) he will become a seat[a] of honor(V) for the house of his father. 24 All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots—all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars.
25 “In that day,(W)” declares the Lord Almighty, “the peg(X) driven into the firm place will give way; it will be sheared off and will fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut down.” The Lord has spoken.(Y)
No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called(A) you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel(B)— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion(C) and are trying to pervert(D) the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,(E) let them be under God’s curse!(F) 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted,(G) let them be under God’s curse!
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?(H) If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul Called by God
11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters,(I) that the gospel I preached(J) is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man,(K) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation(L) from Jesus Christ.(M)
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