Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
8 Even those living in the remotest areas are awestruck by your acts;[a]
you cause those living in the east and west to praise you.[b]
9 You visit the earth and give it rain;[c]
you make it rich and fertile.[d]
God’s streams are full of water;[e]
you provide grain for the people of the earth,[f]
for you have prepared the earth in this way.[g]
10 You saturate[h] its furrows,
and soak[i] its plowed ground.[j]
With rain showers you soften its soil,[k]
and make its crops grow.[l]
11 You crown the year with your good blessings,[m]
and you leave abundance in your wake.[n]
12 The pastures in the wilderness glisten with moisture,[o]
and the hills are clothed with joy.[p]
13 The meadows are clothed with sheep,
and the valleys are covered with grain.
They shout joyfully, yes, they sing.
The Flocks of Jacob
25 After Rachel had given birth to[a] Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send[b] me on my way so that I can go[c] home to my own country.[d] 26 Let me take my wives and my children whom I have acquired by working for you.[e] Then I’ll depart,[f] because you know how hard I’ve worked for you.”[g]
27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, please stay here,[h] for I have learned by divination[i] that the Lord has blessed me on account of you.” 28 He added, “Just name your wages—I’ll pay whatever you want.”[j]
29 “You know how I have worked for you,” Jacob replied,[k] “and how well your livestock have fared under my care.[l] 30 Indeed,[m] you had little before I arrived,[n] but now your possessions have increased many times over.[o] The Lord has blessed you wherever I worked.[p] But now, how long must it be before I do something for my own family too?”[q]
31 So Laban asked,[r] “What should I give you?” “You don’t need to give me a thing,”[s] Jacob replied,[t] “but if you agree to this one condition,[u] I will continue to care for[v] your flocks and protect them: 32 Let me walk among[w] all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb,[x] and the spotted or speckled goats.[y] These animals will be my wages.[z] 33 My integrity will testify for me[aa] later on.[ab] When you come to verify that I’ve taken only the wages we agreed on,[ac] if I have in my possession any goat that is not speckled or spotted or any sheep that is not dark-colored, it will be considered stolen.”[ad] 34 “Agreed!” said Laban, “It will be as you say.”[ae]
35 So that day Laban[af] removed the male goats that were streaked or spotted, all the female goats that were speckled or spotted (all that had any white on them), and all the dark-colored lambs, and put them in the care[ag] of his sons. 36 Then he separated them from Jacob by a three-day journey,[ah] while[ai] Jacob was taking care of the rest of Laban’s flocks.
True Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.[a] 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. 15 Such[b] wisdom does not come[c] from above but is earthly, natural,[d] demonic. 16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating,[e] full of mercy and good fruit,[f] impartial, and not hypocritical.[g] 18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness[h] is planted[i] in peace among[j] those who make peace.
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