Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹ ¶ O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good because his mercy endures for ever.

² Let Israel now say that his mercy endures for ever.

¹⁴ JAH is my strength and song and is become my saving health.

¹⁵ The voice of singing and saving health is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

¹⁶ The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

¹⁷ I shall not die, but live and declare the works of JAH.

¹⁸ JAH has chastened me sore, but he has not given me over unto death.

¹⁹ ¶ Open unto me the gates of righteousness; I will go in through them; I will praise JAH.

²⁰ This gate is of the LORD; the righteous shall enter in.

²¹ I will praise thee; for thou hast heard me and art become my saving health.

²² The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner.

²³ This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

²⁴ This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

¹⁶ But the five kings fled and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.

¹⁷ And it was told unto Joshua that the five kings had been found hidden in a cave at Makkedah.

¹⁸ Then Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them;

¹⁹ and do not stop, but pursue after your enemies and smite their rearguard without allowing them to enter into their cities; for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.

²⁰ And it came to pass when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished slaying them with a very great slaughter until they were consumed, that those who remained of them entered into strong cities.

²¹ And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace; there was no one to move his tongue against any of the sons of Israel.

²² Then Joshua said, Open the mouth of the cave and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.

²³ And they did so and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

²⁴ And when they had brought those kings out unto Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel and said unto the captains of the men of war who went with him, Come near; put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near and put their feet upon the necks of them.

²⁵ And Joshua said unto them, Do not fear, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage; for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

²⁶ And afterward Joshua smote them and slew them and caused them to be hanged on five trees; and they hung upon the trees until the evening.

²⁷ And at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded that they take them down off the trees and cast them into the cave in which they had been hid, and they laid great stones in the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.

⁶ Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

⁷ ¶ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us;

⁸ therefore let us celebrate the feast, not in the old leaven, neither in the leaven of malice and wickedness, but in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.