Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 126^[a]

The Reversal of Zion’s Fortunes

¹ A song of ascents.

I

II

Chapter 23

Purchase of a Burial Plot.^{[a] 1} The span of Sarah’s life was one hundred and twenty-seven years. ² She died in Kiriath-arba—now Hebron—in the land of Canaan, and Abraham proceeded to mourn and weep for her. ³ Then he left the side of his deceased wife and addressed the Hittites:^{[b] 4} “Although I am a resident alien^[c] among you, sell me from your holdings a burial place, that I may bury my deceased wife.”^{(A) 5} The Hittites answered Abraham: “Please, ⁶ sir, listen to us! You are a mighty leader among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial sites. None of us would deny you his burial ground for the burial of your dead.” ⁷ Abraham, however, proceeded to bow low before the people of the land, the Hittites, ⁸ and said to them: “If you will allow me room for burial of my dead, listen to me! Intercede for me with Ephron, son of Zohar, ⁹ so that he will sell me the cave of Machpelah that he owns; it is at the edge of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence at its full price for a burial place.”

¹⁰ Now Ephron was sitting with the Hittites. So Ephron the Hittite replied to Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, all who entered the gate of his city: ¹¹ “Please, sir, listen to me! I give you both the field and the cave in it; in the presence of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead!” ¹² But Abraham, after bowing low before the people of the land, ¹³ addressed Ephron in the hearing of these men: “If only you would please listen to me! I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” ¹⁴ Ephron replied to Abraham, “Please, ¹⁵ sir, listen to me! A piece of land worth four hundred shekels^[d] of silver—what is that between you and me? Bury your dead!” ^16 (B)Abraham accepted Ephron’s terms; he weighed out to him the silver that Ephron had stipulated in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver at the current market value.^[e]

^17 (C)Thus Ephron’s field in Machpelah, facing Mamre, together with its cave and all the trees anywhere within its limits, was conveyed ¹⁸ to Abraham by purchase in the presence of the Hittites, all who entered the gate of Ephron’s city. ¹⁹ After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre—now Hebron—in the land of Canaan.

Chapter 3

¹ That is why, when we could bear it no longer, we decided to remain alone in Athens^{(A) 2} and sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,^{(B) 3} so that no one be disturbed in these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined^[a] for this. ⁴ For even when we were among you, we used to warn you in advance that we would undergo affliction, just as has happened, as you know.^{(C) 5} For this reason, when I too could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had put you to the test and our toil might come to nothing.