Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
12 Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Praise your God, Zion!
13 He makes the bars across your gates strong.
He blesses the children within you.
14 He is the one who brings peace to your borders
and satisfies your ⌞hunger⌟ with the finest wheat.
15 He is the one who sends his promise throughout the earth.
His word travels with great speed.
16 He is the one who sends snow like wool
and scatters frost like ashes.
17 He is the one who throws his hailstones like breadcrumbs.
Who can withstand his chilling blast?
18 He sends out his word and melts his hailstones.
He makes wind blow ⌞and⌟ water flow.
19 He speaks his word to Jacob,
his laws and judicial decisions to Israel.
20 He has done nothing like this for any other nation.
The other nations do not know the decisions he has handed down.
Hallelujah!
7 That night God appeared to Solomon. He said, “What can I give you?”
8 Solomon responded to God, “You’ve shown great love to my father David, and you’ve made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, you’ve kept the promise you made to my father David. You’ve made me king of people who are as numerous as specks of dust on the ground. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
11 God replied to Solomon, “I know this request is from your heart. You didn’t ask for riches, fortunes, honor, or the death of those who hate you. You didn’t even ask for a long life. Instead, you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to judge my people, over whom I made you king. 12 So wisdom and knowledge will be given to you. I will also give you riches, fortunes, and honor like no other king before or after you.”
13 Solomon went from the tent of meeting at the place of worship in Gibeon to Jerusalem. And he ruled Israel.
No One Knows When the Earth and the Heavens Will Disappear
32 “No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows. 33 Be careful! Watch! You don’t know the exact time. 34 It is like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge. He assigned work to each one and ordered the guard to be alert. 35 Therefore, be alert, because you don’t know when the owner of the house will return. It could be in the evening or at midnight or at dawn or in the morning. 36 Make sure he doesn’t come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 I’m telling everyone what I’m telling you: ‘Be alert!’ ”
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