Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
6 The priests brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most holy place(A) beneath the wings of the cherubim.
Solomon’s Prayer
22 Then Solomon stood(A) before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.(B) 23 He said:
Lord God of Israel,
there is no God like You
in heaven above or on earth below,(C)
keeping the gracious covenant
with Your servants who walk before You
with their whole heart.(D)
24 You have kept what You promised
to Your servant, my father David.
You spoke directly to him
and You fulfilled Your promise by Your power
as it is today.(E)
25 Therefore, Lord God of Israel,
keep what You promised
to Your servant, my father David:
You will never fail to have a man
to sit before Me on the throne of Israel,(F)
if only your sons guard their walk before Me
as you have walked before Me.(G)
26 Now Lord[a] God of Israel,
please confirm what You promised
to Your servant, my father David.(H)
27 But will God indeed live on earth?
Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You,
much less this temple I have built.(I)
28 Listen[b] to Your servant’s prayer and his petition,(J)
Lord my God,
so that You may hear the cry and the prayer
that Your servant prays before You today,
29 so that Your eyes may watch over this temple night and day,(K)
toward the place where You said:
My name will be there,(L)
and so that You may hear the prayer
that Your servant prays toward this place.
30 Hear the petition of Your servant(M)
and Your people Israel,
which they pray toward this place.(N)
May You hear in Your dwelling place in heaven.
May You hear and forgive.
41 Even for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel
but has come from a distant land(A)
because of Your name—
42 for they will hear of Your great name,
mighty hand,(B) and outstretched arm,
and will come(C) and pray toward this temple—
43 may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,
and do according to all the foreigner asks You for.
Then all the people on earth will know(D) Your name,
to fear You as Your people Israel do
and know that this temple I have built
is called by Your name.
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)
Christian Warfare
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.(A) 11 Put on(B) the full armor(C) of God so that you can stand against the tactics[a] of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh(D) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,(E) against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil(F) in the heavens.(G) 13 This is why you must take up the full armor(H) of God, so that you may be able to resist(I) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,(J) therefore,
with truth(K) like a belt around your waist,
righteousness(L) like armor on your chest,(M)
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.[b]
16 In every situation take the shield(N) of faith,(O)
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(P)
17 Take the helmet(Q) of salvation,
and the sword(R) of the Spirit,(S)
which is God’s word.
18 Pray(T) at all times in the Spirit(U) with every prayer and request, and stay alert(V) in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness(W) the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador(X) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.
56 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood lives in Me, and I in him.(A) 57 Just as the living(B) Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live(C) because of Me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna[a] your fathers ate—and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.”(D)
59 He said these things while teaching in the synagogue(E) in Capernaum.(F)
Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60 Therefore, when many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard! Who can accept[b] it?”
61 Jesus, knowing in Himself(G) that His disciples were complaining about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man(H) ascending(I) to where He was before? 63 The Spirit(J) is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning(K) those who would not[c] believe and the one who would betray(L) Him.) 65 He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me(M) unless it is granted to him by the Father.”
66 From that moment many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him. 67 Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve,(N) “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”
68 Simon Peter(O) answered, “Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!”[d](P)
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