Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Ezra Reads the Book of the Law
8 And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of (A)the Water Gate, and they said to (B)Ezra the scribe to bring (C)the book of the law of Moses which Yahweh had commanded to Israel. 2 Then (D)Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could understand when listening, on (E)the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it before the square which was in front of (F)the Water Gate from [a]early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the ears of the people were attentive to the book of the law.
5 And Ezra opened (A)the book in the sight of all the people for he was above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people (B)stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed Yahweh the great God. And all the people answered, “(C)Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then (D)they bowed low and worshiped Yahweh with their [a]faces to the ground.
8 They read from the book, from the law of God, [a]explaining and [b]giving insight, and they provided understanding of the reading.
This Day Is Holy
9 Then Nehemiah, who was the [c](A)governor, and Ezra (B)the priest and scribe, and the Levites, who provided the people with understanding, said to all the people, “(C)This day is holy to Yahweh your God; (D)do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and (E)send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”
The Law of Yahweh Is Perfect
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
19 The (A)heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And the (B)expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to (C)day pours forth [a]speech,
And (D)night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no [b]speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their [c](E)line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has (F)placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 Its (G)rising is from [d]one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the [e]other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 (H)The law of Yahweh is [f](I)perfect, (J)restoring the soul;
The testimony of Yahweh is (K)sure, making (L)wise the simple.
8 The precepts of Yahweh are (M)right, (N)rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of Yahweh is (O)pure, (P)enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of Yahweh are (Q)true; they are (R)righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than (S)gold, even more than much fine gold;
(T)Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them (U)Your slave is warned;
In keeping them there is great (V)reward.
12 Who can (W)discern his errors? (X)Acquit me of (Y)hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your slave (Z)from presumptuous sins;
Let them not (AA)rule over me;
Then I will be [g](AB)blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of (AC)great transgression.
14 Let the [h]words of my mouth and (AD)the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Yahweh, (AE)my rock and my (AF)Redeemer.
12 For even (A)as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, (B)so also is Christ. 13 For also [a](C)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether (D)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to (E)drink of one Spirit.
14 For also (F)the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [b]any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [c]any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has (G)appointed the members, each one of them, in the body, (H)just as He desired. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now (I)there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, how much more is it that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary, 23 and those members of the body which we think as less honorable, [d]on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no such need. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no [e]division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is [f]honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are (J)Christ’s body, and (K)individually members of it. 28 And God has [g](L)appointed in (M)the church, first (N)apostles, second (O)prophets, third (P)teachers, then [h](Q)miracles, then (R)gifts of healings, helps, (S)administrations, various (T)kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of [i]miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all [j](U)translate? 31 But [k]you (V)earnestly desire the greater gifts.
And I will yet show you a more excellent way.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
14 And (A)Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and (B)news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He was (C)teaching in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
16 And He came to (D)Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and as was His custom, (E)He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and (F)stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18 “(G)The Spirit of the [a]Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
19 (H)To proclaim the favorable year of the [b]Lord.”
20 And He (I)closed the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and (J)sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your [c]hearing.”
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.