Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Lord Exalts the Humble.
113 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
(A)Praise, O (B)servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord.
2 (C)Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
3 (D)From the rising of the sun to its setting
The (E)name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is (F)high above all nations;
His (G)glory is above the heavens.
5 (H)Who is like the Lord our God,
Who (I)is enthroned on high,
6 Who [c](J)humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
7 He (K)raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 To make them (L)sit with [d]princes,
With the [e]princes of His people.
9 He (M)makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
[f]Praise [g]the Lord!
A Bride for Isaac
24 Now (A)Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the Lord had (B)blessed Abraham in every way. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had (C)charge of all that he owned, “(D)Please place your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will make you swear by the Lord, (E)the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you (F)shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of (G)the Canaanites, among whom I live, 4 but you will go to (H)my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?” 6 Then Abraham said to him, “(I)Beware that you do not take my son back there! 7 (J)The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, ‘(K)To your [a]descendants I will give this land,’ He will send (L)His angel before 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 (M)be free from this my oath; (N)only do not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant (O)placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and set out with a variety of (P)good things of his master’s in his hand; and he arose and went to [b]Mesopotamia, to (Q)the city of Nahor.
Honor Widows
5 (A)Do not sharply rebuke an (B)older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to (C)the younger men as brothers, 2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3 Honor widows who are (D)widows indeed; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, (E)they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to [a]make some return to their parents; for this is (F)acceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she who is a (G)widow indeed and who has been left alone, (H)has fixed her hope on God and continues in (I)entreaties and prayers night and day. 6 But she who (J)gives herself to wanton pleasure is (K)dead even while she lives. 7 [b](L)Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has (M)denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
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