Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.

¹ ¶ The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows the work of his hands.

² One day provides a word for the next day, and one night declares wisdom unto the next night.

³ There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

⁴ Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun,

⁵ which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.

⁶ His going forth is from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

⁷ ¶ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

⁸ The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the rights of the LORD are true, they are all just.

¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover by them is thy slave warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.

¹² Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

¹³ Keep back thy slave also from pride and arrogance; let them not have dominion over me; then I shall be perfect, and I shall be innocent of the great rebellion.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

2 ¶ And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, the king, that as wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it unto the king. And as I had not been sad before in his presence,

² the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing else but brokenness of heart. Then I was very sore afraid

³ and said unto the king, Let the king live for ever; why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the house of my fathers’ sepulchres, lies waste, and its gates are consumed with fire?

⁴ Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of the heavens.

⁵ And I said unto the king, If it pleases the king, and if thy slave has found favour in thy sight, that thou would send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may rebuild it.

⁶ Then the king said unto me (the queen also sitting by him), For how long shall thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? So the matter pleased the king, and he sent me; and I set him a time.

⁷ Moreover, I said unto the king, If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the captains on the other side of the river, that they may convey me over until I come into Judah,

⁸ and a letter unto Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace of the house and for the wall of the city and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of the LORD upon me.

⁹ ¶ Then I came to the captains of the other side of the river and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent princes of the army and horsemen with me.

¹⁰ When Sanballat, the Horonite, and Tobiah, the slave, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

12 ¶ Therefore, I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies in living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing unto God, which is your rational worship.

² And be not conformed to this age, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your soul that ye may experience what is that good and well pleasing and perfect will of God.

³ Therefore I say through the grace given unto me, to all those that are among you not to obtain more knowledge than is prudent to know, but to obtain knowledge with temperance, each one according to the measure of faith that God has dealt.

⁴ For in the manner that we have many members in one body, nevertheless all the members do not have the same operation;

⁵ likewise many of us are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

⁶ So that having different gifts according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, according to the measure of faith;

⁷ or ministry, in serving; or he that teaches, in doctrine;

⁸ he that exhorts, in exhortation; he that gives, let him do it in simplicity; he that presides, in earnest care; he that shows mercy, in cheerfulness.