Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
9 God, I will sing a new song to you;
I will play on a ten-stringed harp for you(A)—
10 the one who gives victory to kings,
who frees his servant David
from the deadly sword.(B)
11 Set me free and rescue me
from foreigners(C)
whose mouths speak lies,
whose right hands are deceptive.(D)
12 Then our sons will be like plants
nurtured in their youth,
our daughters, like corner pillars
that are carved in the palace style.(E)
13 Our storehouses will be full,
supplying all kinds of produce;(F)
our flocks will increase by thousands
and tens of thousands in our open fields.(G)
14 Our cattle will be well fed.[a]
There will be no breach in the walls,
no going into captivity,[b]
and no cry of lament in our public squares.(H)
15 Happy are the people with such blessings.
Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.(I)
Narrator
6 Who is this(A) coming up from the wilderness
like columns of smoke,
scented with myrrh and frankincense(B)
from every fragrant powder of the merchant?
7 Look! Solomon’s bed
surrounded by sixty warriors
from the mighty men of Israel.
8 All of them are skilled with swords
and trained in warfare.
Each has his sword at his side(C)
to guard against the terror of the night.(D)
9 King Solomon made a carriage for himself
with wood from Lebanon.
10 He made its posts of silver,
its back[a] of gold,
and its seat of purple.
Its interior is inlaid with love[b]
by the young women of Jerusalem.(E)
11 Go out, young women of Zion,(F)
and gaze at King Solomon,
wearing the crown his mother placed on him
on the day of his wedding(G)—
the day of his heart’s rejoicing.
A Good Servant of Jesus Christ
6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith(A) and the good teaching that you have followed.(B) 7 But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths.(C) Rather, train yourself in godliness.(D) 8 For the training of the body has limited benefit,(E) but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.(F) 9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.(G) 10 For this reason we labor and strive,[a] because we have put our hope in the living God,(H) who is the Savior(I) of all people,(J) especially of those who believe.
Instructions for Ministry
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech,(K) in conduct,(L) in love,[b](M) in faith, and in purity.(N) 13 Until I come,(O) give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy,(P) with the laying on of hands(Q) by the council of elders. 15 Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save(R) both yourself and your hearers.(S)
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