Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
5 Lord, Your faithful love reaches to heaven,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.(A)
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains;
Your judgments, like the deepest sea.(B)
Lord, You preserve man and beast.(C)
7 God, Your faithful love is so valuable
that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.(D)
8 They are filled from the abundance of Your house;
You let them drink from Your refreshing stream,(E)
9 for with You is life’s fountain.(F)
In Your light we will see light.(G)
10 Spread Your faithful love over those who know You,
and Your righteousness over the upright in heart.(H)
Blessing or Curse
4 If you return,[a] Israel—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
you will return to Me,(A)
if you remove your detestable idols(B)
from My presence
and do not waver,
2 then you can swear, “As the Lord lives,”(C)
in truth,(D) in justice, and in righteousness,(E)
then the nations will be blessed[b] by Him(F)
and will pride themselves in Him.(G)
3 For this is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:
A House Divided
14 Now(A) He was driving out a demon(B) that was mute.[a](C) When the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul,(D) the ruler(E) of the demons!”(F) 16 And others, as a test,(G) were demanding of Him a sign(H) from heaven.
17 Knowing their thoughts,(I) He told them: “Every kingdom divided(J) against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan(K) also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom(L) stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons[b](M) drive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges. 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God,(N) then the kingdom of God(O) has come to you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure.[c] 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers(P) him, he takes from him all his weapons[d](Q) he trusted(R) in, and divides up his plunder.(S) 23 Anyone who is not with Me is against Me,(T) and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters.
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