Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Prayer for Help in Time of Trouble

17 Hear what is right, O Lord. Listen to my cry. Hear my prayer, for it does not come from lying lips. ² May You decide in my favor. May Your eyes see what is right. ³ You have tested my heart. You have visited me during the night. You have tested me and have found nothing wrong. I have decided that my mouth will not sin. ⁴ As for the actions of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept myself from the paths of those who want to hurt others. ⁵ My steps have followed Your paths. My feet have not turned from them.

⁶ I have called to You, O God, for You will answer me. Listen to me and hear my words. ⁷ Show Your great loving-kindness. You save by Your right hand the people that come to You for help from those who hate them. ⁸ Keep me safe as You would Your own eye. Hide me in the shadow of Your wings, ⁹ from the sinful who fight against me, those who would kill me and are all around me. ¹⁰ They have closed their fat hearts to pity. And their mouths speak with pride. ¹¹ They have followed our every step and are all around us. They are watching for a way to bring us down to the ground. ¹² He is like a hungry lion, like a young lion hiding and waiting.

¹³ Rise up, O Lord. Stand against him. Bring him down. Save me from the sinful with Your sword. ¹⁴ O Lord, save me by Your hand from such men. Their riches are in this life. Their stomach is filled with what you have stored for them. Their children are filled. Let them leave some for their babies. ¹⁵ As for me, I will see Your face in what is right and good. I will be happy to see You when I awake.

Satan Tests Job

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was without blame. He was right and good, he feared God, and turned away from sin. ² Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. ³ He had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 1,000 oxen, 500 female donkeys, and many servants. He was the greatest of all the men of the east. ⁴ His sons used to go and make a special supper in each one’s house on a special day. And they would send for their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When the days of their special supper were over, Job would get up early in the morning and send for them. Then he would give burnt gifts for each of them so that they would be pure. For Job said, “It might be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job always did this.

⁶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to show themselves before the Lord. Satan came with them also. ⁷ And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From traveling around on the earth and walking around on it.” ⁸ The Lord said to Satan, “Have you thought about My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth. He is without blame, a man who is right and good. He honors God with fear and turns away from sin.” ⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Have You not made a wall around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have brought good to the work of his hands, and he has received more and more in the land. ¹¹ But put out Your hand now and touch all that he has. And for sure he will curse You to Your face.” ¹² Then the Lord said to Satan, “See, all that he has is in your power. Only do not put your hand on him.” So Satan went out from the Lord.

Job’s Children and Riches Are Destroyed

¹³ On a day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a man came to Job with news, saying, “The oxen were pulling the plow and the donkeys were eating beside them. ¹⁵ And the Sabeans came and took them. They also killed the servants with the sword. I alone have run away from them to tell you.” ¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another man came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and destroyed them. I alone have gotten away to tell you.” ¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The Babylonians divided into three groups and came to fight. They took the camels and killed the servants with the sword. I alone have gotten away to tell you.” ¹⁸ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. ¹⁹ And see, a strong wind came from the desert and hit the four corners of the house. It fell on the young people and they are dead. I alone have gotten away to tell you.”

²⁰ Then Job stood up and tore his clothing and cut the hair from his head. And he fell to the ground and worshiped. ²¹ He said, “Without clothing I was born from my mother, and without clothing I will return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Praise the name of the Lord.” ²² In all this Job did not sin or blame God.

³⁴ Watch yourselves! Do not let yourselves be loaded down with too much eating and strong drink. Do not be troubled with the cares of this life. If you do, that day will come on you without you knowing it. ³⁵ It will come on all people over all the earth. ³⁶ Be sure you watch. Pray all the time so that you may be able to keep from going through all these things that will happen and be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

³⁷ Everyday Jesus taught in the house of God. At night He went to the Mount of Olives and stayed there. ³⁸ Early in the morning all the people came to the house of God to hear Him.

They Look for a Way to Put Jesus to Death ^(A)

22 The time for the supper of bread without yeast was near. It was the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. ² The religious leaders and the teachers of the Law looked for a way to kill Jesus. But they were afraid of the people.

³ Then Satan came into the heart of Judas who was called Iscariot. He was one of the twelve followers. ⁴ Judas went away and talked with the religious leaders and the leaders of the people. He talked about how he might hand Jesus over to them. ⁵ They were glad and promised to pay him money. ⁶ Judas promised to do this and then looked for a way to hand Jesus over when there were no people around.