Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 17
A Prayer for Protection
A prayer of David.
1 Lord, hear a just cause;(A)
pay attention to my cry;
listen to my prayer—
from lips free of deceit.(B)
2 Let my vindication come from you,
for you see what is right.(C)
3 You have tested my heart;(D)
you have examined me at night.
You have tried me and found nothing evil;(E)
I have determined that my mouth will not sin.[a]
4 Concerning what people do:
by the words from your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.(F)
5 My steps are on your paths;
my feet have not slipped.(G)
6 I call on you, God,
because you will answer me;(H)
listen closely to me; hear what I say.
7 Display the wonders of your faithful love,(I)
Savior of all who seek refuge(J)
from those who rebel against your right hand.[b]
8 Protect me as the pupil of your eye;(K)
hide me in the shadow of your wings(L)
9 from[c] the wicked who treat me violently,[d]
my deadly enemies who surround me.(M)
10 They are uncaring;[e](N)
their mouths speak arrogantly.(O)
11 They advance against me;[f] now they surround me.(P)
They are determined[g]
to throw me to the ground.(Q)
12 They are[h] like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.(R)
13 Rise up, Lord!
Confront him; bring him down.(S)
With your sword, save me from the wicked.(T)
14 With your hand, Lord, save me from men,
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life:
You fill their bellies with what you have in store;
their sons are satisfied,
and they leave their surplus to their children.(U)
Job and His Family
1 There was a man in the country of Uz(A) named Job.(B) He was a man of complete integrity,(C) who feared God and turned away from evil.(D) 2 He had seven sons and three daughters.(E) 3 His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys,(F) and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.(G)
4 His sons used to take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for[a] all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.”(H) This was Job’s regular practice.
Satan’s First Test of Job
6 One day the sons of God(I) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”
“From roaming through the earth,”(J) Satan answered him, “and walking around on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity,(K) who fears God and turns away from evil.”(L)
9 Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t you placed a hedge around(M) him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike(N) everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
12 “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and reported, “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby, 15 the Sabeans(O) swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, “God’s fire fell from heaven.(P) It burned the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. 19 Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job stood up, tore(Q) his robe, and shaved(R) his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21 saying:
Naked I came from my mother’s womb,(S)
and naked I will leave this life.[c](T)
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.(U)
22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.[d](V)
The Need for Watchfulness
34 “Be on your guard,(A) so that your minds are not dulled[a] from carousing,[b] drunkenness,(B) and worries of life,(C) or that day will come on you unexpectedly(D) 35 like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But be alert at all times,(E) praying that you may have strength[c] to escape(F) all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 During(G) the day, he was teaching in the temple,(H) but in the evening he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives.(I) 38 Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear him in the temple.(J)
The Plot to Kill Jesus
22 The(K) Festival of Unleavened Bread,(L) which is called Passover,(M) was approaching. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death,(N) because they were afraid of the people.(O)
3 Then(P) Satan entered Judas,(Q) called Iscariot,(R) who was numbered among the Twelve. 4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police(S) how he could hand him over(T) to them. 5 They were glad and agreed to give him silver.[d] 6 So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray him to them when the crowd was not present.
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