Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Praise Him, All Creation!
Psalm 148
1 Halleluyah!
Praise Adonai from the heavens!
Praise Him in the highest!
2 Praise Him all His angels!
Praise Him all His armies.
3 Praise Him, sun and moon!
Praise Him, all stars of light.
4 Praise Him, highest heavens,
and waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the Name of Adonai,
for He commanded and they were created.
6 He set them in place forever and ever.
He made a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise Adonai from the earth,
sea monsters and all depths,
8 fire and hail, snow and vapor,
storm wind doing His bidding,
9 mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 beasts and all cattle,
crawling things and winged birds,
11 kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of earth,
12 both young men and maidens,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the Name of Adonai,
for His Name alone is exalted.
His glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for His people,
a praise for all His kedoshim,[a]
for the children of Israel—
a people near to Him.
Halleluyah!
Joash Betrays the Righeous Kohen
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada, the chiefs of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 They forsook the House of Adonai, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols. Wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for their guilt. 19 Adonai sent prophets to them to bring them back to Him and although they admonished them, they would not listen.
20 Then the Ruach Elohim came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the kohen.[a] He stood above the people and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you transgress the mitzvot of Adonai? You will not succeed. Because you have forsaken Adonai, He has also forsaken you.’”
21 But they conspired against him, and by order of the king, they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the House of Adonai. 22 Thus King Joash disregarded the loyalty which his father Jehoiada had shown to him—and slew Jehoiada’s son. As he was dying, he said: “May Adonai see and avenge!”
Judgment on Joash and His Chieftains
23 It came to pass that at the turn of the year, the Aramean army came up against him. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem and massacred all the chieftains of the people, and sent all their plunder to the king of Damascus. 24 Although the Aramean army came with only a small number of men, Adonai gave over a much larger army into their hands, because they had forsaken Adonai, God of their fathers. So they executed judgment upon Joash.
Appointed for Service
6 Now in those days, when the disciples were multiplying, grumbling arose[a] among the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily support. 2 So the Twelve called together the whole group of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 So, brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the Word.”
5 The statement pleased the whole group; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 They placed these men before the emissaries; and after praying, they laid hands on them.[b]
7 The word of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem greatly multiplied; even a great number of the kohanim were becoming obedient to the faith.
51 “O you stiff-necked people! You uncircumcised of heart and ears! You always resist the Ruach ha-Kodesh; just as your fathers did, you do as well. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed the ones who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. Now you have become His betrayers and murderers— 53 you who received the Torah by direction of angels and did not keep it!”
54 When they heard these things, they became enraged and began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God—and Yeshua standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 But they covered their ears; and crying out with a loud voice, they rushed at him with one impulse. 58 Driving him out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he was calling out, “Lord Yeshua, receive my spirit!” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” After he said this, he died.[a]
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.