Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

105 Thank the Lord for all the glorious things he does; proclaim them to the nations. ² Sing his praises and tell everyone about his miracles. ³ Glory in the Lord; O worshipers of God, rejoice.

⁴ Search for him and for his strength, and keep on searching!

^5-6 Think of the mighty deeds he did for us, his chosen ones—descendants of God’s servant Abraham, and of Jacob. Remember how he destroyed our enemies.

²³ Then Jacob (Israel) arrived in Egypt and lived there with his sons. ²⁴ In the years that followed, the people of Israel multiplied explosively until they were a greater nation than their rulers. ²⁵ At that point God turned the Egyptians against the Israelis; they hated and enslaved them.

²⁶ But God sent Moses as his representative, and Aaron with him,

⁴⁵ This was done to make them faithful and obedient to his laws. Hallelujah!

¹⁶ “Call together all the elders of Israel,” God instructed him, “and tell them about Jehovah appearing to you here in this burning bush and that he said to you, ‘I have visited my people and have seen what is happening to them there in Egypt. ¹⁷ I promise to rescue them from the drudgery and humiliation they are undergoing, and to take them to the land now occupied by the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, a land “flowing with milk and honey.’” ¹⁸ The elders of the people of Israel will accept your message. They must go with you to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us and instructed us to go three days’ journey into the desert to sacrifice to him. Give us your permission.’

¹⁹ “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go except under heavy pressure. ²⁰ So I will give him all the pressure he needs! I will destroy Egypt with my miracles, and then at last he will let you go. ²¹ And I will see to it that the Egyptians load you down with gifts when you leave, so that you will by no means go out empty-handed! ²² Every woman will ask for jewels, silver, gold, and the finest of clothes from her Egyptian master’s wife and neighbors. You will clothe your sons and daughters with the best of Egypt!”

⁷ As for the work this man of rebellion and hell will do when he comes, it is already going on,^[a] but he himself will not come until the one who is holding him back steps out of the way. ⁸ Then this wicked one will appear, whom the Lord Jesus will burn up with the breath of his mouth and destroy by his presence when he returns. ⁹ This man of sin will come as Satan’s tool, full of satanic power, and will trick everyone with strange demonstrations, and will do great miracles. ¹⁰ He will completely fool those who are on their way to hell because they have said no to the Truth; they have refused to believe it and love it and let it save them, ¹¹ so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts, ¹² and all of them will be justly judged for believing falsehood, refusing the Truth, and enjoying their sins.