Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Lord Helps the Poor
113 Praise the Lord! Praise Him, O you who serve the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. 2 Let the name of the Lord be honored, now and forever. 3 The name of the Lord is to be praised from the time the sun rises to when it sets. 4 The Lord is high above all nations. His shining-greatness is above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God? He sits on His throne on high. 6 He looks down upon the heavens and the earth. 7 He raises the poor from the dust. He lifts those in need from the ashes. 8 He makes them sit with rulers, with the rulers of His people. 9 He gives a home to the woman who could not give birth and makes her the mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Isaac and Rebekah
24 Now Abraham was old. He had lived many years. And the Lord had brought good to Abraham in every way. 2 Abraham said to the oldest servant in his house and the one who took care of all that he owned, “Place your hand under my hip, 3 and I will have you promise by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth. Promise that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, who live around me. 4 But go to my country and to those of my family. Take a wife for my son Isaac from there.” 5 The servant said to Abraham, “What if the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land? Should I take your son to the land you came from?” 6 Abraham said to him, “Make sure that you do not take my son there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, Who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, spoke to me and promised me. He said, ‘I will give this land to your children and to their children’s children.’ He will send His angel in front of you. And you will take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this promise to me. Only do not take my son there.” 9 So the servant placed his hand under the hip of Abraham, and he promised to do this.
10 Then the servant took ten of Abraham’s camels and left. He took with him all kinds of gifts from Abraham. Then he went to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia.
Teaching About Women Whose Husbands Have Died
5 Do not speak sharp words to an older man. Talk with him as if he were a father. Talk to younger men as brothers. 2 Talk to older women as mothers. Talk to younger women as sisters, keeping yourself pure. 3 Help women whose husbands have died. 4 If a woman whose husband has died has children or grandchildren, they are the ones to care for her. In that way, they can pay back to their parents the kindness that has been shown to them. God is pleased when this is done. 5 Women whose husbands have died are alone in this world. Their trust is in the Lord. They pray day and night. 6 But the one who lives only for the joy she can receive from this world is the same as dead even if she is alive.
7 Teach these things so they will do what is right. 8 Anyone who does not take care of his family and those in his house has turned away from the faith. He is worse than a person who has never put his trust in Christ.
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