Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
24 Adonai, how countless are Your works!
In wisdom You made them all—
the earth is full of Your creatures.
25 There is the sea, vast and wide,
teeming with gliding things innumerable,
living creatures, both small and large.
26 There, ships go to and fro.
Leviathan—You formed to frolic there.
27 They all look to You to give them
their food at the right time.
28 When You give it to them, they gather it up.
When You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.
29 But when You hide Your face—they are dismayed.
You take away their breath—they perish,
and return to their dust.
30 You send forth Your Ruach—they are created,
and You renew the face of the earth.
31 May the glory of Adonai endure forever!
May Adonai rejoice in His works!
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles.
He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to Adonai as long as I live!
I will sing praise to my God yet again!
34 Let my meditation be sweet to Him.
I—I will rejoice in Adonai.
35 Let sinners vanish from the earth
and let the wicked be no more.
Bless Adonai, O my soul. Halleluyah!
Elijah in a Chariot of Fire
2 Now it came to pass, when Adonai was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here please, for Adonai has sent me on to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As Adonai lives, and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
3 Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that Adonai is going to take your master away from over you today?”
He said, “Yes, I know. Be silent.”
4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here please, for Adonai has sent me on to Jericho.”
But he said, “As Adonai lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.
5 Then the sons of the prophets at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that Adonai is going to take away your master from over you today?”
He replied, “Yes, I know. Be silent.”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here please, for Adonai has sent me to the Jordan.”
But he said, “As Adonai lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So both of them went on.
7 Then 50 of the sons of the prophets went and stood aside at a distance from them, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah then took his mantle, wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 Now as they were crossing over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I will do for you before I am taken from you.”
So Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10 He replied, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so to you; but if not, it will not be so.”
11 As they were walking along and talking, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 As Elisha was watching, he was crying out, “Avi! Avi! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” Then he saw him no more. So he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
Elisha Takes Up the Mantle
13 He then picked up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him. When he returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan, 14 he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen off him, struck the waters and said, “Where is Adonai, the God of Elijah?” As he indeed struck the waters, they parted here then there. Then Elisha crossed over.
15 When the sons of the prophets at Jericho saw him some way off, they said, “The spirit of Elijah has rested on Elisha.” So they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.
Prophecy of Birth to the Barren
5 In the days of Herod, King of Judah, there was a kohen named Zechariah from the priestly division of Abijah.[a] Elizabeth, his wife, was from the daughters of Aaron. 6 Together they were righteous before Adonai, walking without fault in all His commandments and instructions. 7 But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren and both of them were elderly.
8 Now it happened to be Zechariah’s time to serve as kohen before Adonai in the order of his division. 9 According to the custom of the priestly office, it became his lot to enter the Holy Place of Adonai to burn incense. [b] 10 And the whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour of incense burning. 11 An angel of Adonai appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 Zechariah was in turmoil when he saw the angel, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to your son, and you will name him John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 He will be great before Adonai; and he should not drink wine and intoxicating beverage,[c] but he will be filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh just out of his mother’s womb. 16 Many of Bnei-Yisrael will turn to Adonai their God. 17 And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to the children[d] and the disobedient ones to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for Adonai a prepared people.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.