Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love them. I think about them all day long. ⁹⁸ They make me wiser than my enemies because they are my constant guide. ⁹⁹ Yes, wiser than my teachers, for I am ever thinking of your rules. ¹⁰⁰ They make me even wiser than the aged.

¹⁰¹ I have refused to walk the paths of evil, for I will remain obedient to your Word. ^102-103 No, I haven’t turned away from what you taught me; your words are sweeter than honey. ¹⁰⁴ And since only your rules can give me wisdom and understanding, no wonder I hate every false teaching.

³¹ And the food became known as “manna” (meaning “What is it?”); it was white, like coriander seed, and flat, and tasted like honey bread.

³² Then Moses gave them this further instruction from the Lord: they were to take two quarts of it to be kept as a museum specimen forever, so that later generations could see the bread the Lord had fed them in the wilderness, when he brought them from Egypt. ³³ Moses told Aaron to get a container and put two quarts of manna in it and to keep it in a sacred place from generation to generation. ³⁴ Aaron did this, just as the Lord had instructed Moses, and eventually it was kept in the Ark in the Tabernacle.

³⁵ So the people of Israel ate the manna forty years until they arrived in the land of Canaan, where there were crops to eat.

16 ^1-2 Phoebe, a dear Christian woman from the town of Cenchreae, will be coming to see you soon. She has worked hard in the church there. Receive her as your sister in the Lord, giving her a warm Christian welcome. Help her in every way you can, for she has helped many in their needs, including me. ³ Tell Priscilla and Aquila hello. They have been my fellow workers in the affairs of Christ Jesus. ⁴ In fact, they risked their lives for me, and I am not the only one who is thankful to them; so are all the Gentile churches.

⁵ Please give my greetings to all those who meet to worship in their home. Greet my good friend Epaenetus. He was the very first person to become a Christian in Asia. ⁶ Remember me to Mary, too, who has worked so hard to help us. ⁷ Then there are Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who were in prison with me. They are respected by the apostles and became Christians before I did. Please give them my greetings. ⁸ Say hello to Ampliatus, whom I love as one of God’s own children, ⁹ and Urbanus, our fellow worker, and beloved Stachys.

¹⁰ Then there is Apelles, a good man whom the Lord approves; greet him for me. And give my best regards to those working at the house of Aristobulus. ¹¹ Remember me to Herodion my relative. Remember me to the Christian slaves over at Narcissus House. ¹² Say hello to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord. ¹³ Greet Rufus for me, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother who has been such a mother to me. ¹⁴ And please give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the other brothers who are with them. ¹⁵ Give my love to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas, and all the Christians who are with them. ¹⁶ Shake hands warmly with each other. All the churches here send you their greetings.