Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 4

To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

¹ Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness (uprightness, justice, and right standing with You)! You have freed me when I was hemmed in and enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me and hear my prayer.

² O you sons of men, how long will you turn my honor and glory into shame? How long will you love vanity and futility and seek after lies? Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

³ But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself [and given distinction to] him who is godly [the man of loving-kindness]. The Lord listens and heeds when I call to Him.

⁴ Be angry [or stand in awe] and sin not; commune with your own hearts upon your beds and be silent (sorry for the things you say in your hearts). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!^(A)

⁵ Offer just and right sacrifices; trust (lean on and be confident) in the Lord.

⁶ Many say, Oh, that we might see some good! Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord.

⁷ You have put more joy and rejoicing in my heart than [they know] when their wheat and new wine have yielded abundantly.

⁸ In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.

3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (three o’clock in the afternoon),

² [When] a certain man crippled from his birth was being carried along, who was laid each day at that gate of the temple [which is] called Beautiful, so that he might beg for charitable gifts from those who entered the temple.

³ So when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them to give him a gift.

⁴ And Peter directed his gaze intently at him, and so did John, and said, Look at us!

⁵ And [the man] paid attention to them, expecting that he was going to get something from them.

⁶ But Peter said, Silver and gold (money) I do not have; but what I do have, that I give to you: in [the ^[a]use of] the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!

⁷ Then he took hold of the man’s right hand with a firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and ankle bones became strong and steady,

⁸ And leaping forth he stood and ^[b]began to walk, and he went into the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

⁹ And all the people saw him walking about and praising God,

¹⁰ And they recognized him as the man who usually sat [begging] for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement (bewilderment, consternation) over what had occurred to him.

²⁴ Now ^[a]an eager contention arose among them [as to] which of them was considered and reputed to be the greatest.

²⁵ But Jesus said to them, The kings of the Gentiles ^[b]are deified by them and exercise lordship [^[c]ruling as emperor-gods] over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers.

²⁶ But this is not to be so with you; on the contrary, let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves.

²⁷ For who is the greater, the one who reclines at table (the master), or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am in your midst as One Who serves.

²⁸ And you are those who have remained [throughout] and persevered with Me in My trials;

²⁹ And as My Father has appointed a kingdom and conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you [the privilege and decree],

³⁰ That you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.