Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.
A Prayer of David.
17 Hear a (A)just cause, O Lord, (B)give heed to my cry;
(C)Give ear to my prayer, which is not from (D)deceitful lips.
2 Let (E)my [a]judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with (F)equity.
3 You have (G)tried my heart;
You have visited me by night;
You have (H)tested me and (I)You find [b]nothing;
I have (J)purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4 As for the deeds of men, (K)by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the (L)paths of the violent.
5 My (M)steps have held fast to Your [c]paths.
My (N)feet have not slipped.
8 “But you, Israel, (A)My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
Descendant of (B)Abraham My (C)friend,
9 You whom I have [a](D)taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its (E)remotest parts
And said to you, ‘You are (F)My servant,
I have (G)chosen you and not rejected you.
10 ‘Do not (H)fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely (I)I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous (J)right hand.’
6 But it is not as though (A)the word of God has failed. (B)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children (C)because they are Abraham’s [a]descendants, but: “[b](D)through Isaac your [c]descendants will be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are (E)children of God, but the (F)children of the promise are regarded as [d]descendants. 9 For this is the word of promise: “(G)At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 (H)And not only this, but there was (I)Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that (J)God’s purpose according to His choice would [e]stand, not [f]because of works but [g]because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “(K)The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written, “(L)Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
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