Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Voice of the Lord in the Storm
29 Give to the Lord, O sons of the powerful. Give to the Lord shining-greatness and strength. 2 Give to the Lord the honor that belongs to Him. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holy living.
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. The God of shining-greatness thunders. The Lord is over many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is great. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the tall cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon jump like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild bull. 7 The voice of the Lord sends out lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert. The Lord shakes the desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and tears away the leaves of the trees. And in His holy house everything says, “Honor to God!”
10 The Lord sat as King over the flood. The Lord sits as King forever. 11 The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will give His people peace.
16 Moses did all that the Lord told him to do. 17 On the first day of the first month of the second year, the meeting tent was set up. 18 Moses set up the meeting tent, laid the bases, set up its pieces of wood, put in its cross-pieces and set up its pillars. 19 He spread the covering over the meeting tent. And he put the top covering over it, just as the Lord had told Moses. 20 Then he took the Law and put it into the special box. He put the long pieces of wood on the special box of the agreement. And he put the mercy-seat on top of the special box. 21 He brought the special box into the meeting tent and hung the curtain. He put the curtain in front of the special box of the agreement, just as the Lord had told Moses. 22 Then he put the table in the meeting tent, on the north side of the tent, outside the curtain. 23 He set the bread in its place on the table before the Lord, just as the Lord had told Moses. 24 Then he put the lamp-stand in the meeting tent, away from the table, on the south side of the tent. 25 He set up the lamps before the Lord, just as the Lord had told Moses. 26 He put the gold altar in the tent of meeting, in front of the curtain. 27 And he burned sweet-smelling perfume on it, just as the Lord had told Moses. 28 Then he hung the curtain at the door of the meeting tent. 29 He set the altar of burnt gifts in front of the door of the meeting tent. And he gave the burnt gift and the grain gift on it, just as the Lord had told Moses. 30 He put the washing pot between the tent of meeting and the altar, with water in it for washing. 31 Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and feet there. 32 They washed when they came into the tent of meeting and when they came near the altar, just as the Lord had told Moses. 33 He made the open space all around the meeting tent and the altar. And he hung the curtain for the gate of the open space. So Moses finished the work.
The Cloud over the Meeting Tent
34 Then the cloud covered the meeting tent. The shining-greatness of the Lord filled the holy tent.
35 Moses was not able to go into the meeting tent because the cloud had rested upon it and the shining-greatness of the Lord filled the holy tent. 36 When the cloud was lifted from the meeting tent, the people of Israel would go on their way through all their traveling days. 37 But when the cloud was not lifted, they did not move on until the day when it was lifted. 38 For the cloud of the Lord rested on the meeting tent during the day. And fire was in the cloud during the night. It was seen by all the people of Israel as they traveled.
Paul and Silas Are Allowed to Go Free
35 When it was day, the leaders sent a soldier to say, “Let these men go free.” 36 The man who watched the prison told this to Paul. He said, “The leaders have sent word to let you go free. Come out now and go without any trouble.”
37 Paul said, “No! They have beaten us in front of many people without a trial. We are Roman citizens and they have put us in prison. Now do they think they can send us away without anyone knowing? No! They must come themselves and take us out.” 38 The soldiers told this to the leaders. Then the leaders were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 They went themselves and told Paul and Silas they were sorry. Then they took them out and asked them to leave their city. 40 Paul and Silas went to Lydia’s house after they left the prison. They met with the Christians and gave them comfort. Then they went away from the city.
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