Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Hannah’s Triumphant Prayer
2 Hannah prayed:(A)
My heart rejoices in the Lord;(B)
my horn is lifted up by the Lord.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
because I rejoice in Your salvation.(C)
2 There is no one holy like the Lord.(D)
There is no one besides You!(E)
And there is no rock like our God.(F)
3 Do not boast so proudly,
or let arrogant words come out of your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and actions are weighed by Him.(G)
4 The bows of the warriors are broken,(H)
but the feeble are clothed with strength.(I)
5 Those who are full hire themselves out for food,
but those who are starving hunger no more.
The woman who is childless gives birth to seven,(J)
but the woman with many sons pines away.(K)
6 The Lord brings death and gives life;(L)
He sends some to Sheol, and He raises others up.(M)
7 The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth;(N)
He humbles and He exalts.(O)
8 He raises the poor from the dust(P)
and lifts the needy from the garbage pile.(Q)
He seats them with noblemen(R)
and gives them a throne of honor.[a]
For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;(S)
He has set the world on them.(T)
9 He guards the steps[b] of His faithful ones,(U)
but the wicked perish in darkness,(V)
for a man does not prevail by his own strength.(W)
10 Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered;[c](X)
He will thunder in the heavens against them.(Y)
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.(Z)
He will give power to His king;
He will lift up the horn of His anointed.(AA)
21 When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice(A) and his vow offering to the Lord, 22 Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the Lord’s presence(B) and to stay there permanently.”(C)
23 Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best,[a](D) and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your[b] word.”(E) So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull,[c] half a bushel[d] of flour, and a jar of wine.(F) Though the boy was still young,[e] she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh.(G) 25 Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.
26 “Please, my lord,” she said, “as sure as you live,(H) my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this boy,(I) and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for,(J) 28 I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.”(K) Then he[f] bowed in worship to the Lord there.[g]
Fight the Good Fight
11 But you, man of God, run from these things,
and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love,(A) endurance,(B) and gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight(C) for the faith;
take hold of eternal life(D)
that you were called to
and have made a good confession about
in the presence of many witnesses.
13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all,(E) and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate,(F) I charge you 14 to keep the command without fault or failure until the appearing(G) of our Lord(H) Jesus Christ. 15 God will bring this about in His own time.(I) He is
the blessed and only(J) Sovereign,
the King of kings,(K)
and the Lord of lords,(L)
16 the only One who has immortality,
dwelling in unapproachable light;(M)
no one has seen or can see Him,(N)
to Him be honor and eternal might.(O)
Amen.(P)
Instructions to the Rich
17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant(Q) or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God,[a] who richly provides us with all things(R) to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works,(S) to be generous, willing to share,(T) 19 storing up for themselves a good reserve[b] for the age to come,(U) so that they may take hold of life that is real.
Guard the Heritage
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you,(V) avoiding(W) irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the “knowledge” that falsely bears that name.(X) 21 By professing it, some(Y) people have deviated from the faith.(Z)
Grace be with all of you.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.