Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
11 Teach me your way,(A) Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;(B)
give me an undivided(C) heart,
that I may fear(D) your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;(E)
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me(F) from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.(G)
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.(H)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious(I) God,
slow to anger,(J) abounding(K) in love and faithfulness.(L)
16 Turn to me(M) and have mercy(N) on me;
show your strength(O) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.(P)
17 Give me a sign(Q) of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Ishmael’s Sons(A)
12 This is the account(B) of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Sarah’s slave, Hagar(C) the Egyptian, bore to Abraham.(D)
13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth(E) the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar,(F) Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah,(G) Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema,(H) Jetur,(I) Naphish and Kedemah. 16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers(J) according to their settlements and camps.(K) 17 Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.(L) 18 His descendants(M) settled in the area from Havilah to Shur,(N) near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward[a] all the tribes related to them.(O)
To the Church in Smyrna
8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna(A) write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,(B) who died and came to life again.(C) 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!(D) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,(E) but are a synagogue of Satan.(F) 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,(G) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.(H) Be faithful,(I) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.(J)
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear(K) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.(L)
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