Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The King of Glory and His Kingdom
A Psalm of David.
24 The (A)earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has (B)founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the [a]waters.
3 (C)Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has (D)clean hands and (E)a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor (F)sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who (G)seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah
7 (H)Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
(I)And the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in (J)battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah
Making the Ark of the Testimony(A)
37 Then (B)Bezalel made (C)the ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits was its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold all around it. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold to be set in its four corners: two rings on one side, and two rings on the other side of it. 4 He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he put the poles into the rings at the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6 He also made the (D)mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits was its length and a cubit and a half its width. 7 He made two cherubim of beaten gold; he made them of one piece at the two ends of the mercy seat: 8 one cherub at one end on this side, and the other cherub at the other end on that side. He made the cherubim at the two ends of one piece with the mercy seat. 9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, and covered the (E)mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.
Making the Table for the Showbread(F)
10 He made (G)the table of acacia wood; two cubits was its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold all around it. 12 Also he made a frame of a handbreadth all around it, and made a molding of gold for the frame all around it. 13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that were at its four legs. 14 The rings were close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. 15 And he made the poles of acacia wood to bear the table, and overlaid them with gold. 16 He made of pure gold the utensils which were on the table: its (H)dishes, its cups, its bowls, and its pitchers for pouring.
Christian Graces
2 (A)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it (B)with thanksgiving; 3 (C)meanwhile praying also for us, that God would (D)open to us a door for the word, to speak (E)the [a]mystery of Christ, (F)for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 (G)Walk in (H)wisdom toward those who are outside, (I)redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be (J)with grace, (K)seasoned with salt, (L)that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Final Greetings(M)
7 (N)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 (O)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that [b]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 with (P)Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.
10 (Q)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with (R)Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.
12 (S)Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always (T)laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand (U)perfect and [c]complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great [d]zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 (V)Luke the beloved physician and (W)Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and [e]Nymphas and (X)the church that is in [f]his house.
Closing Exhortations and Blessing
16 Now when (Y)this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to (Z)Archippus, “Take heed to (AA)the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
18 (AB)This salutation by my own hand—Paul. (AC)Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.