Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Praise for God’s Provision
147 Hallelujah!
It is good to sing praise to our God,
and it is fitting to sing glorious praise.
2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;
he gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted,
binding up their injuries.
4 He keeps track of the number of stars,
assigning names to all of them.
5 Our Lord is great,
and rich in power;
his understanding has no limitation.
6 The Lord supports the afflicted
while he casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving,
and compose music to our God with the lyre.
8 He shields the heavens with clouds,
preparing rain for the earth
and making grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives wild animals their food,
including the young ravens when they cry.
10 He takes no delight in the strength of a horse,
and gains no pleasure in the runner’s swiftness.[a]
11 But the Lord is pleased with those who fear him,
with those who depend on his gracious love.
20 He has not dealt with any other nation like this;
they never knew[a] his decrees.
Hallelujah!
Elihu Concludes His Arguments
36 Elihu responded again and said:
2 “Be patient with me a moment longer,
and I’ll show you that there’s more to say on God’s behalf.
3 I’ll take what I know to its logical conclusion[a]
and ascribe righteousness to my Creator,
4 because what I have to say isn’t deceptive,
and the one who has perfect knowledge is with you.”
God Disciplines
5 “Indeed God is mighty and he doesn’t show disrespect;
he is mighty and strong of heart.
6 He doesn’t let the wicked live;
he grants justice to the afflicted.
7 He won’t stop looking at righteous people;
he seats them on thrones with kings forever,
and they are exalted.
8 “If they’re bound in chains,
caught in ropes of affliction,
9 he’ll reveal their actions to them,
when their transgressions have become excessive.
10 He opens their ears and instructs them,
commanding them to repent from evil.
11 If they listen and serve him,[b]
they’ll finish[c] their lives in prosperity
and their years will be pleasant.
12 “But if they won’t listen,
they’ll perish[d] by the sword
and die in their ignorance.
13 The godless at heart cherish[e] anger;
they won’t cry out for help when God[f] afflicts[g] them.
14 They[h] die in their youth;
and their life will end[i] among temple prostitutes.
15 He’ll deliver the afflicted through their afflictions
and open their ears when they are oppressed.”
God is an All-Powerful and Just Teacher
16 “Indeed, he drew you away from the brink of distress
to a spacious place without constraints,
filling your festive[j] table with bountiful[k] food.
17 But now you are occupied with the case of the wicked;
but justice and judgment will be served.
18 So that no one entices you with riches,
don’t let a large ransom turn you astray.
19 “Will your wealth sustain you when you’re in distress,
despite your most powerful efforts?[l]
20 Don’t long for night,
when people vanish[m] in their place.
21 Be careful! Don’t turn to evil,
because of this you will be tried by more than affliction.
22 “Indeed, God is exalted in his power.
Who is like him as a teacher?
23 Who ordained his path for him,
and who has asked him, ‘You are wrong, aren’t you?’
The Rights of an Apostle
9 I am free, am I not? I am an apostle, am I not? I have seen Jesus our Lord, haven’t I? You are the result of[a] my work in the Lord, aren’t you? 2 If I am not an apostle to other people, surely I am one to you, for you are the evidence of my apostolic authority from the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who would examine me: 4 We have the right to earn our food,[b] don’t we? 5 We have the right to take a believing wife with us like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas,[c] don’t we? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to keep on working for a living? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its grapes? Or who takes care of a flock and does not drink any of its milk? 8 I am not saying this on human authority, am I? The Law says the same thing, doesn’t it? 9 For in the Law of Moses it is written, “You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”[d] God is not only concerned about oxen, is he? 10 Isn’t he really speaking for our benefit? Yes, this was written for our benefit, because the one who plows should plow in hope, and the one who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? 12 If others enjoy this right over you, don’t we have a stronger claim? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we tolerate everything in order not to put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of the Messiah.[e]
13 You know that those who work in the Temple get their food from the Temple and that those who serve at the altar get their share of its offerings, don’t you? 14 In the same way, the Lord has ordered that those who proclaim the gospel should make their living from the gospel.
15 But I have not used any of these rights, and I’m not writing this so that they may be applied in my case. I would rather die than let anyone deprive me of my reason for[f] boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for this obligation has been entrusted to me. How terrible it would be for me if I didn’t preach the gospel!
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