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.

5 ¶ Then there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren, the Jews.

² For there were some that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many; therefore we have bought grain that we may eat and live.

³ There were also some that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.

⁴ And there were some that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

⁵ Yet now, given that the flesh of our brethren is as our flesh and their sons as our sons, behold, we subject our sons and our daughters to slavery, and there are some of our daughters in bondage already; neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

⁶ ¶ And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

⁷ Then I meditated unto myself, and I rebuked the principals and the rulers and said unto them, Does each one of you exact usury of his brother? And I set a great assembly against them.

⁸ And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren, the Jews who had been sold unto the Gentiles; and will ye even sell your brethren? And shall they be sold unto us? Then they remained silent, for they had nothing to answer.

⁹ Also I said, What you do is not good, do you not walk in the fear of our God, that ye not be the reproach of our enemies the Gentiles?

¹⁰ I, likewise, and my brethren and my servants, have lent them money and grain; let us now release them from this burden.

¹¹ Restore, I pray you, to them, today, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, and even the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

¹² Then they said, We will return it and will require nothing of them; so we will do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests and caused them to sware that they should do according to this promise.

¹³ Also I shook my lap and said, Thus will God shake out each man from his house and from his labour, that does not perform this promise, even thus shall he be shaken out and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

³⁹ And when they had completed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth.

⁴⁰ And the child grew and was comforted of the Spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.

⁴¹ ¶ And his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

⁴³ And having completed the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

⁴⁴ But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.

⁴⁵ And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

⁴⁶ And it came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.

⁴⁷ And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

⁴⁸ And when they saw him, they were amazed; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

⁴⁹ And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Knew ye not that it behooves me to be about my Father’s business?

⁵⁰ And they understood not the word which he spoke unto them.

⁵¹ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them, but his mother kept all these things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in age and in grace with God and men.