Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

4 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod,

² And the Lord delivered them up into the hands of Jaban king of Chanaan, who reigned in Asor: and he had a general of his army named Sisara, and he dwelt in Haroseth of the Gentiles.

³ And the children of Israel cried to the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots set with scythes, and for twenty years had grievously oppressed them.

⁴ And there was at that time Debbora a prophetess the wife of Lapidoth, who judged the people,

⁵ And she sat under a palm tree, which was called by her name, between Rama and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for all judgment.

⁶ And she sent and called Barac the son of Abinoem out of Cedes in Nephtali: and she said to him: The Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee: Go, and lead an army to mount Thabor, and thou shalt take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nephtali, and of the children of Zabulon:

⁷ And I will bring unto thee in the place of the torrent Cison, Sisara the general of Jabin's army, and his chariots, and all his multitude, and will deliver them into thy hand.

123 If it had not been that the Lord was with us, let Israel now say:

² If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up against us,

³ Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled against us,

⁴ Perhaps the waters had swallowed us up.

⁵ Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had passed through a water insupportable.

⁶ Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth.

⁷ Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered.

⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

5 But of the times and moments, brethren, you need not, that we should write to you;

² For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord shall so come, as a thief in the night.

³ For when they shall say, peace and security; then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as the pains upon her that is with child, and they shall not escape.

⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

⁵ For all you are the children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

⁶ Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch, and be sober.

⁷ For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunk, are drunk in the night.

⁸ But let us, who are of the day, be sober, having on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

⁹ For God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but unto the purchasing of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁰ Who died for us; that, whether we watch or sleep, we may live together with him.

¹¹ For which cause comfort one another; and edify one another, as you also do.

¹⁴ For even as a man going into a far country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods;

¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey.

¹⁶ And he that had received the five talents, went his way, and traded with the same, and gained other five.

¹⁷ And in like manner he that had received the two, gained other two.

¹⁸ But he that had received the one, going his way digged into the earth, and hid his lord's money.

¹⁹ But after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them.

²⁰ And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents, behold I have gained other five over and above.

²¹ His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

²² And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me: behold I have gained other two.

²³ His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

²⁴ But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and gatherest where thou hast not strewed.

²⁵ And being afraid I went and hid thy talent in the earth: behold here thou hast that which is thine.

²⁶ And his lord answering, said to him: Wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not, and gather where I have not strewed:

²⁷ Thou oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with usury.

²⁸ Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents.

²⁹ For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away.

³⁰ And the unprofitable servant cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.