Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse sheweth the work of his hands.

² Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

³ There is no speech and there are no words, yet their voice is heard.

⁴ Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their language to the extremity of the world. In them hath he set a tent for the sun,

⁵ And he is as a bridegroom going forth from his chamber; he rejoiceth as a strong man to run the race.

⁶ His going forth is from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

⁷ The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple;

⁸ The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes;

⁹ The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever; the judgments of Jehovah are truth, they are righteous altogether:

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold, yea, than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey and the dropping of the honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover, by them is thy servant enlightened; in keeping them there is great reward.

¹² Who understandeth [his] errors? Purify me from secret [faults].

¹³ Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be perfect, and I shall be innocent from great transgression.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.

19 In the third month after the departure of the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they [into] the wilderness of Sinai:

² they departed from Rephidim, and came [into] the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in the wilderness; and Israel encamped there before the mountain.

³ And Moses went up to God, and Jehovah called to him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:

⁴ Ye have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, and [how] I have borne you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

⁵ And now, if ye will hearken to my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then shall ye be my own possession out of all the peoples—for all the earth is mine—

⁶ and ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak to the children of Israel.

⁷ And Moses came and called the elders of the people, and laid before the mall these words which Jehovah had commanded him.

⁸ And all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah has spoken will we do! And Moses brought the words of the people back to Jehovah.

⁹ And Jehovah said to Moses, Lo, I will come to thee in the cloud's thick darkness, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee also for ever. And Moses told the words of the people to Jehovah.

⁴ To whom coming, a living stone, cast away indeed as worthless by men, but with God chosen, precious,

⁵ yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

⁶ Because it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame.

⁷ To you therefore who believe [is] the preciousness; but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders cast away as worthless, this is become head of [the] corner,

⁸ and a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; [who] stumble at the word, being disobedient to which also they have been appointed.

⁹ But *ye* [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light;

¹⁰ who once [were] not a people, but now God's people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found mercy.