Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 139[a]
God’s Infinite Knowledge and Universal Power
1 For the director.[b] A psalm of David.
[c]O Lord, you have examined me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I stand;[d]
you perceive my thoughts from a distance.
3 You mark when I go out and when I lie down;
all my ways are open to you.
4 A word is not even on my tongue
and you, O Lord, are completely aware of it.
5 You enfold me from in front and from behind,
and you place your hand upon me.[e]
6 Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension,
far too sublime for me to attain.
7 [f]Where can I go to hide from your spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to the heavens, you are there;
if I take my rest in the netherworld, you are also there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn[g]
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your right hand will hold me fast.
11 [h]If I say, “Surely the darkness will conceal me
and the day around me will turn to night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for to you darkness and light are the same.
23 Examine me, O God, and know my heart;[a]
test me and understand my thoughts.
24 See if I follow an evil way,
and guide me on the way to eternity.
9 The Egyptians followed and caught up with them while they were camped near the sea. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army were near Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
10 When Pharaoh approached, the children of Israel looked up and saw that the Egyptians were marching after them. The children of Israel were terrified and called upon the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out to the desert to die? Was it because there were not enough graves in Egypt? What have you done bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Did we not tell you in Egypt, ‘Let us stay here and serve the Egyptians?’ It is better for us to serve than for us to die in the desert?”
13 Moses answered, “Do not be afraid. Be strong, and you will see the salvation that the Lord will work for you today, for you will never again see the Egyptians that you see today. 14 The Lord will battle for you. Be calm!”
15 The Children of Israel Cross the Red Sea.[a] The Lord said to Moses, “Why do they cry out to me? Order the children of Israel to set out again. 16 You are to lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it so that the children of Israel may pass through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 I will harden the heart of the Egyptians so that they will enter after them. I will display my glory against Pharaoh and all his army, against his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I display my glory against Pharaoh, against his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 The angel of God, who had gone in front of Israel’s camp, now moved and went in back of them. The pillar of cloud also moved from their front to their back. 20 They were, therefore, between the camps of the Egyptians and the children of Israel. The cloud was dark for the former group, while it lit up the night for the other. Thus, one group could not approach the other throughout the night.
21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. During the night the Lord caused the sea to move back with a strong east wind, producing dry ground. The waters split in two. 22 The children of Israel entered the sea on dry land, while the waters formed a wall on their right and their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued them with all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. They entered after them in the midst of the sea. 24 Just before dawn the Lord of the column of fire and cloud looked upon the camp of the Egyptians and threw them into confusion. 25 He clogged the wheels of their chariots so that they could hardly move. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the children of Israel for the Lord is fighting with them against the Egyptians.”
15 False Prophets and True Disciples.[a]“Be on guard against false prophets who come to you disguised in sheep’s clothing, but who inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Does one pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruits you will know them.
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