Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 84
Longing for God’s House
For the choir director: on the Gittith.(A) A psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 How lovely is Your dwelling place,
Lord of Hosts.(B)
2 I long and yearn
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh cry out for[a] the living God.(C)
3 Even a sparrow finds a home,
and a swallow, a nest for herself
where she places her young—
near Your altars, Lord of Hosts,
my King and my God.(D)
4 How happy are those who reside in Your house,
who praise You continually.(E)
5 Happy are the people whose strength is in You,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(F)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,[b]
they make it a source of springwater;
even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.[c](G)
7 They go from strength to strength;
each appears before God in Zion.(H)
8 Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Jacob.(I)
9 Consider our shield,[d] God;(J)
look on the face of Your anointed one.(K)
10 Better a day in Your courts
than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather be at the door of the house of my God
than to live in the tents of wicked people.(L)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield.(M)
The Lord gives grace and glory;
He does not withhold the good
from those who live with integrity.(N)
12 Happy is the person who trusts in You,
Lord of Hosts!(O)
Building the Temple
6 Solomon began to build the temple for the Lord in the four hundred eightieth year(A) after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of his reign over Israel, in the second month, in the month of Ziv.[a](B) 2 The temple that King Solomon built for the Lord(C) was 90 feet[b] long, 30 feet[c] wide, and 45 feet[d] high.(D) 3 The portico in front of the temple sanctuary was 30 feet[e] long extending across the temple’s width, and 15 feet deep[f] in front of the temple.(E) 4 He also made windows with beveled frames[g] for the temple.(F)
21 Next, Solomon overlaid the interior of the temple with pure gold, and he hung[a] gold chains(A) across the front of the inner sanctuary(B) and overlaid it with gold. 22 So he added the gold overlay to the entire temple until everything was completely finished, including the entire altar(C) that belongs to the inner sanctuary.
10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation(A) than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver,(B) costly stones,(C) wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious, for the day[a] will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire;(D) the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.(E) 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved;(F) yet it will be like an escape through fire.[b](G)
16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary(H) and that the Spirit of God lives in you?(I) 17 If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him;(J) for God’s sanctuary is holy,(K) and that is what you are.
The Folly of Human Wisdom
18 No one should deceive(L) himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age,(M) he must become foolish(N) so that he can become wise.(O) 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness(P) with God, since it is written:(Q) He catches the wise in their craftiness;(R)[c] 20 and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings(S) of the wise are meaningless.(T)[d] 21 So no one should boast in human leaders, for everything is yours(U)— 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas(V) or the world or life(W) or death(X) or things present or things to come(Y)—everything is yours, 23 and you belong to Christ,(Z) and Christ belongs to God.
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