Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

[A Psalm] of David.

35 Strive, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me:

² Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help;

³ And draw out the spear, and stop [the way] against my pursuers: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

⁴ Let them be put to shame and confounded that seek after my life; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that devise my hurt:

⁵ Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of Jehovah drive [them] away;

⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of Jehovah pursue them.

⁷ For without cause have they hidden for me their net [in] a pit; without cause they have digged [it] for my soul.

⁸ Let destruction come upon him unawares, and let his net which he hath hidden catch himself: for destruction let him fall therein.

⁹ And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah; it shall rejoice in his salvation.

¹⁰ All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the afflicted from one stronger than he, yea, the afflicted and the needy from him that spoileth him!

22 And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan from Jericho.

² And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

³ And Moab was much afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

⁴ And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this company lick up all that is round about us, as an ox licks up the green herb of the field. Now Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

⁵ And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is on the river in the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people is come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the land, and they abide over against me.

⁶ And now come, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are mightier than I: perhaps I may be able to smite them, and drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

⁷ And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed, having the rewards of divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.

⁸ And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, according as Jehovah shall speak unto me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

⁹ And God came to Balaam, and said, Who are these men with thee?

¹⁰ And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me,

¹¹ Behold, a people is come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the land. Now come, curse me them: perhaps I may be able to fight against them, and drive them out.

¹² And God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.

¹³ And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go into your land; for Jehovah refuses to give me leave to go with you.

¹⁴ And the princes of Moab rose up; and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam has refused to come with us.

¹⁵ Then sent Balak yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

¹⁶ And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Suffer not thyself, I pray thee, to be restrained from coming to me;

¹⁷ for very highly will I honour thee, and whatever thou shalt say to me will I do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

¹⁸ And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.

¹⁹ And now, I pray you, abide ye also here this night, and I shall know what Jehovah will say to me further.

²⁰ Then God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men have come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but only what I shall say unto thee shalt thou do.

²¹ And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

¹⁷ And when we arrived at Jerusalem the brethren gladly received us.

¹⁸ And on the morrow Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders came there.

¹⁹ And having saluted them, he related one by one the things which God had wrought among the nations by his ministry.

²⁰ And they having heard [it] glorified God, and said to him, Thou seest, brother, how many myriads there are of the Jews who have believed, and all are zealous of the law.

²¹ And they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews among the nations apostasy from Moses, saying that they should not circumcise their children, nor walk in the customs.

²² What is it then? a multitude must necessarily come together, for they will hear that thou art come.

²³ This do therefore that we say to thee: We have four men who have a vow on them;

²⁴ take these and be purified with them, and pay their expenses, that they may have their heads shaved; and all will know that [of those things] of which they have been informed about thee nothing is [true]; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the law.

²⁵ But concerning [those of] the nations who have believed, we have written, deciding that they should [observe no such thing, only to] keep themselves both from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication.

²⁶ Then Paul, taking the men, on the next day, having been purified, entered with them into the temple, signifying the time the days of the purification would be fulfilled, until the offering was offered for every one of them.