Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he (A)would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; 5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, (B)but the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival, however, (C)would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat. 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? (D)Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of (E)the temple of the Lord. 10 She, [a]greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 She (F)made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed (G)look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a [b]son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and (H)a razor shall never come on his head.”
12 Now it came about, as she [c]continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, (I)she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 14 Then Eli said to her, “(J)How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” 15 But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman [d]oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I (K)have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not [e]consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and [f]provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “(L)Go in peace; and may the God of Israel (M)grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 18 She said, “(N)Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and (O)her face was no longer sad.
Samuel Is Born to Hannah
19 Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in (P)Ramah. And Elkanah [g]had relations with Hannah his wife, and (Q)the Lord remembered her. 20 It came about [h]in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “(R)Because I have asked him of the Lord.”
Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving
2 Then Hannah (A)prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord;
(B)My [a]horn is exalted in the Lord,
My mouth [b]speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because (C)I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 “(D)There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, (E)there is no one besides You,
(F)Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 “[c]Boast no more so very proudly,
(G)Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
(H)For the Lord is a God of knowledge,
(I)And with Him actions are weighed.
4 “(J)The bows of the mighty are shattered,
(K)But the feeble gird on strength.
5 “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to hunger.
(L)Even the barren gives birth to seven,
But (M)she who has many children languishes.
6 “(N)The Lord kills and makes alive;
(O)He brings down to [d]Sheol and raises up.
7 “(P)The Lord makes poor and rich;
(Q)He brings low, He also exalts.
8 “(R)He raises the poor from the dust,
(S)He lifts the needy from the ash heap
(T)To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor;
(U)For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the world on them.
9 “(V)He keeps the feet of His godly ones,
(W)But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
(X)For not by might shall a man prevail.
10 “(Y)Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered;
(Z)Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
(AA)The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
(AB)And He will give strength to His king,
(AC)And will exalt the [e]horn of His anointed.”
11 Every priest stands daily ministering and (A)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which (B)can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice (C)for [a]sins (D)for all time, (E)sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward (F)until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has (G)perfected (H)for all time those who are [b]sanctified.
15 And (A)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
16 “(B)This is the covenant that I will make with them
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their heart,
And on their mind I will write them,”
He then says,
17 “(C)And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will remember no more.”
18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
A New and Living Way
19 Therefore, brethren, since we (A)have confidence to (B)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by (C)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through (D)the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have (E)a great priest (F)over the house of God, 22 let us (G)draw near with a [a]sincere heart in (H)full assurance of faith, having our hearts (I)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies (J)washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the (K)confession of our (L)hope without wavering, for (M)He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how (N)to stimulate one another to love and (O)good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own (P)assembling together, as is the habit of some, but (Q)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see (R)the day drawing near.
Things to Come
13 (A)As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, behold [a]what wonderful stones and [b]what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? (B)Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”
3 As He was sitting on (C)the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, (D)Peter and [c]James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the [d]sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 6 Many will come in My name, saying, ‘(E)I am He!’ and will mislead many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
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