Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Whole Creation Invoked to Praise the Lord.
148 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
Praise the Lord (A)from the heavens;
Praise Him (B)in the heights!
2 Praise Him, (C)all His angels;
Praise Him, (D)all His hosts!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all stars of light!
4 Praise Him, [c](E)highest heavens,
And the (F)waters that are above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For (G)He commanded and they were created.
6 He has also (H)established them forever and ever;
He has made a (I)decree which will not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
(J)Sea monsters and all (K)deeps;
8 (L)Fire and hail, (M)snow and (N)clouds;
(O)Stormy wind, (P)fulfilling His word;
9 (Q)Mountains and all hills;
Fruit (R)trees and all cedars;
10 (S)Beasts and all cattle;
(T)Creeping things and winged fowl;
11 (U)Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and virgins;
Old men and children.
5 (A)In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon (B)in a dream at night; and God said, “(C)Ask what you wish Me to give you.”
Solomon’s Prayer
6 Then Solomon said, “(D)You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, (E)according as he walked before You in [a]truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and (F)You have [b]reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 Now, O Lord my God, (G)You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet (H)I am but a little child; (I)I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 (J)Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, (K)a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So (L)give Your servant [c]an understanding heart to judge Your people (M)to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this [d]great people of Yours?”
God’s Answer
10 [e]It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have (N)not asked for yourself [f]long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself [g]discernment to understand justice, 12 behold, (O)I have done according to your words. Behold, (P)I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13 (Q)I have also given you what you have not asked, both (R)riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 (S)If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will (T)prolong your days.”
Jesus Is the Light of the World
12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “(A)I am the Light of the world; (B)he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “(C)You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not [a]true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “(D)Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is [b]true, for I know (E)where I came from and where I am going; but (F)you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 (G)You judge [c]according to the flesh; (H)I am not judging anyone. 16 But even (I)if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17 Even in (J)your law it has been written that the testimony of (K)two men is [d]true. 18 I am He who testifies about Myself, and (L)the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” 19 So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; (M)if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.