Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A Song About Rejoicing in God
149 Hallelujah!
Sing a new song to the Lord,
praising him where the godly gather together.
2 May Israel rejoice in its Maker,
and Zion’s descendants in their King!
3 May they praise his name with dancing,
chanting songs to him with tambourines and lyres.
4 For the Lord is pleased with his people;
he beautifies the afflicted with salvation.
5 May those he loves be exalted,
singing for joy on their couches.
6 Let high praises to God be heard[a] in their throats,
while they wield two-edged swords in their hands
7 as they bring retribution to nations
and punishment to peoples,
8 binding their kings with chains,
their officials with iron bands,
9 and executing the judgment written against them.
This is honor for all the ones he loves.
Hallelujah!
Warning of the Death of the Firstborn
11 Then the Lord told Moses, “I’ll bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt. After that he’ll let you leave from here, and when he lets you go, he will certainly drive you out from here. 2 Tell[a] the people that each man is to ask his neighbor and each woman her neighbor for articles of silver and gold.”
3 The Lord made the Egyptians look on the people with favor. Also the man Moses was highly regarded[b] in the land of Egypt, both in the opinion[c] of Pharaoh’s officials[d] and in the opinion[e] of the people.
4 So Moses announced to Pharaoh,[f] “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I’m going throughout Egypt, 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the slave girl who operates[g] the hand mill, along with the firstborn of the animals. 6 There will be a great cry throughout the land of Egypt, like there has never been and never will be again. 7 But among the Israelis, from people to animals, not even a dog will bark,[h] so you may know that the Lord is distinguishing between the Egyptians and the Israelis.’ 8 All these officials[i] of yours will come down to me, prostrate themselves to me, and say, ‘Get out, you and all the people following[j] you!’ After that I’ll go out.” Then Moses[k] angrily left Pharaoh.
9 The Lord told Moses, “Pharaoh won’t listen to you. As a result, my wonders will increase throughout the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders in front of Pharaoh, but the Lord made Pharaoh’s heart stubborn,[l] and he would not let the Israelis go out from his land.
29 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. 30 Then you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our ancestors, we would have had no part with them in shedding[a] the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Therefore, you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Then finish what your ancestors started![b] 33 You snakes, you children of serpents! How can you escape being condemned to hell?[c]
34 “That is why I am sending you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from town to town. 35 As a result, you will be held accountable for[d] all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel[e] to the blood of Berechiah’s son Zechariah,[f] whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 I tell all of you[g] with certainty, all these things will happen to those living today.”[h]
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.