Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Lamed

Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll of Jeremiah’s Prophecies

36 And then^[a] in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,^{[b] 2} “Take for yourself a scroll^[c] and you must write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day that I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, and until this day. ³ Perhaps when the house of Judah hears all the disasters^[d] that I am planning to do to them, then they may turn back each one from his evil way, and I will forgive their guilt and their sin.”

⁴ Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Yahweh that he had spoken to him on a scroll.^{[e] 5} And Jeremiah instructed Baruch, saying,^[f] “I am held back, I am not able to enter the temple of Yahweh. ⁶ So you must go and you shall read aloud from the scroll that you have written from my mouth the words of Yahweh in the hearing of the people in the temple of Yahweh on a day of fast, and also you shall read aloud in the hearing of all those of Judah who came from their towns. ⁷ Perhaps their plea will fall before^[g] Yahweh and each one will turn away from his evil way, for great is the anger and wrath that Yahweh pronounced against this people.” ⁸ And Baruch the son of Neriah did all that Jeremiah the prophet instructed him, to read aloud from the scroll the words of Yahweh in the temple of Yahweh.

⁹ And then^[h] in the fifth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the towns of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before^[i] Yahweh. ¹⁰ Then Baruch read aloud from the scroll the words of Jeremiah in the temple of Yahweh, in the chamber of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, the secretary, in the upper courtyard at the entrance of the New Gate of the temple of Yahweh in the hearing of all the people.

Appropriate Use of Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love, and strive for spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ² For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, because no one understands, but by the Spirit^[a] he speaks mysteries. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people edification and encouragement and consolation. ⁴ The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ Now I want you all to speak with tongues, but even more that you may prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, in order that the church may receive edification.

⁶ But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I benefit you, unless I speak to you either with a revelation or with knowledge or with a prophecy or with a teaching? ⁷ Likewise, the inanimate things which produce a sound, whether flute or lyre, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the lyre? ⁸ For indeed, if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹ And so you through the tongue, unless you produce a clear message, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are probably so many kinds of languages in the world, and none without meaning. ¹¹ Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a barbarian to the one who is speaking, and the one who is speaking will be a barbarian in my judgment. ¹² In this way also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek for the edification of the church, in order that you may abound.