Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

99 Jehovah is King! Let the nations tremble! He is enthroned between the Guardian Angels. Let the whole earth shake.

² Jehovah sits in majesty in Zion, supreme above all rulers of the earth. ³ Let them reverence your great and holy name.

⁴ This mighty King is determined to give justice. Fairness is the touchstone of everything he does. He gives justice throughout Israel. ⁵ Exalt the Lord our holy God! Bow low before his feet.

⁶ When Moses and Aaron and Samuel, his prophet, cried to him for help, he answered them. ⁷ He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud, and they followed his instructions. ⁸ O Jehovah our God! You answered them and forgave their sins, yet punished them when they went wrong.

⁹ Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain in Jerusalem, for he is holy.

31 ^1-2 The Lord also said to Moses, “See, I have appointed Bezalel (son of Uri, and grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah), ³ and have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and skill in constructing the Tabernacle and everything it contains. ⁴ He is highly capable as an artistic designer of objects made of gold, silver, and bronze. ⁵ He is skilled, too, as a jeweler and in carving wood.

⁶ “And I have appointed Oholiab (son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan) to be his assistant; moreover, I have given special skill to all who are known as experts, so that they can make all the things I have instructed you to make: ⁷ the Tabernacle; the Ark with the place of mercy upon it; all the furnishings of the Tabernacle; ⁸ the table and its instruments; the pure gold lampstand with its instruments; the altar of incense; ⁹ the burnt offering altar with its instruments; the laver and its pedestal; ¹⁰ the beautifully made, holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons, so that they can minister as priests; ¹¹ the anointing oil; and the sweet-spice incense for the Holy Place. They are to follow exactly the directions I gave you.”

5 And now, a word to you elders of the church. I, too, am an elder; with my own eyes I saw Christ dying on the cross; and I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns. Fellow elders, this is my plea to you: ² Feed the flock of God; care for it willingly, not grudgingly; not for what you will get out of it but because you are eager to serve the Lord. ³ Don’t be tyrants, but lead them by your good example, ⁴ and when the Head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor.

⁵ You younger men, follow the leadership of those who are older. And all of you serve each other with humble spirits, for God gives special blessings to those who are humble, but sets himself against those who are proud.