Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 17[a]
A prayer of David.
17 Lord, consider my just cause.[b]
Pay attention to my cry for help.
Listen to the prayer
I sincerely offer.[c]
2 Make a just decision on my behalf.[d]
Decide what is right.[e]
3 You have scrutinized my inner motives;[f]
you have examined me during the night.[g]
You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin.
I am determined I will say nothing sinful.[h]
4 As for the actions of people[i]—
just as you have commanded,
I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men.[j]
5 I carefully obey your commands;[k]
I do not deviate from them.[l]
6 I call to you because you will answer me, O God.
Listen to me![m]
Hear what I say![n]
7 Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds,[o]
you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies.[p]
The Lord Encourages His People
8 “You, my servant Israel,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
offspring of Abraham my friend,[a]
9 you whom I am bringing back[b] from the earth’s extremities,
and have summoned from the remote regions—
I told you, ‘You are my servant.’
I have chosen you and not rejected you.
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you!
Don’t be frightened, for I am your God![c]
I strengthen you—
yes, I help you—
yes, I uphold you with my victorious right hand![d]
6 It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel,[a] 7 nor are all the children Abraham’s true descendants; rather “through Isaac will your descendants be counted.”[b] 8 This means[c] it is not the children of the flesh[d] who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants. 9 For this is what the promise declared:[e] “About a year from now[f] I will return and Sarah will have a son.”[g] 10 Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man,[h] our ancestor Isaac— 11 even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election[i] would stand, not by works but by[j] his calling)[k]— 12 [l] it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,”[m] 13 just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[n]
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