Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
1 ¶ O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good because his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now say that his mercy endures for ever.
19 ¶ Open unto me the gates of righteousness; I will go in through them; I will praise JAH.
20 This gate is of the LORD; the righteous shall enter in.
21 I will praise thee; for thou hast heard me and art become my saving health.
22 The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, cause us now to prosper.
26 Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD; from the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 God is the LORD, who has shined on us; bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee; thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever.
28 ¶ And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
30 saying, Go ye into the village over against you, in which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, upon whom no one has ever sat; loose him, and bring him here.
31 And if anyone asks you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord has need of him.
32 And those that were sent went and found even as he had said unto them.
33 And as they were loosing the colt, its owners said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34 And they said, The Lord has need of him.
35 And they brought him to Jesus, and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus upon it.
36 And as he went, they spread their garments in the way.
37 And when he was come near, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,
38 saying, Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that if these should be silent, the stones would immediately cry out.
4 ¶ The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the wise that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary; he wakes up early, early shall he awaken my ear, that I might hear, as the wise.
5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to those that plucked off the hair: I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.
7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore, I was not ashamed; therefore, I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
8 He is near that justifies me; who will contend with me? let us stand together; who is my adversary? let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? behold, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
9 ¶ Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: my eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
10 For my life is spent with grief and my years with sighing: my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11 I was a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to my acquaintances: those that see me without flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I have become like a lost vessel.
13 For I have heard the slander of many; fear was on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD; I said, Thou art my God.
15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those that persecute me.
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy slave; save me for thy mercies’ sake.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, made in the likeness of men,
8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. {Gr. stauros – stake}
9 Therefore, God also has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is Lord in the glory of God the Father.
14 And when the hour was come, he sat down at the table, and the twelve apostles with him.
15 And he said unto them, With desire I have greatly desired to eat this passover lamb with you before I suffer;
16 for I say unto you, I will not eat any more thereof until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
17 And taking the cup, having given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves,
18 for I say unto you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God shall come.
19 And taking bread, having given thanks, he broke it and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also he took and gave them the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
21 ¶ But with all this, behold, the hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table.
22 And truly the Son of man goes as it was determined; but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
24 And there was also a contention among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25 Then he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those that exercise authority upon them are called well-doers.
26 But ye shall not be so, but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is prince, as he that doth serve.
27 For who is greater, he that sits at the table or he that serves? Is it not he that sits at the table? But I am among you as he that serves.
28 But ye are those who have continued with me in my temptations.
29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom as my Father has appointed unto me;
30 that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat;
32 but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, thou shalt deny three times that thou knowest me before the cock shall crow this day.
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse and provision bag and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing.
36 Then he said unto them, But now, he that has a purse, let him take it and likewise his provision bag; and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.
37 For I say unto you that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors; for the things written concerning me have a fulfillment.
38 Then they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
39 ¶ And he came out and went as he was wont to the mount of Olives, and his disciples also followed him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s cast and kneeled down and prayed,
42 saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when he rose up from prayer and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow
46 and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
47 ¶ And while he yet spoke, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
49 When those who were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
50 And one of them smote the slave of the prince of the priests and cut off his right ear.
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said unto the princes of the priests and captains of the temple and the elders, who were come to him, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves?
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
54 ¶ Then they took him and led him and brought him into the house of the prince of the priests. And Peter followed afar off.
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire and earnestly looked upon him and said, This man was also with him.
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
58 And after a little while another saw him and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
59 And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilaean.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately while he yet spoke, the cock crew.
61 Then the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord how he had said unto him, Before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me three times.
62 And Peter went out and wept bitterly.
63 ¶ And the men that held Jesus mocked him and smote him.
64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
65 And they spoke many other things blasphemously against him.
66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the princes of the priests and the scribes came together and led him into their council, saying,
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe;
68 and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me nor let me go;
69 but from now on the Son of man shall sit on the right hand of the power of God.
70 Then they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I AM.
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
23 ¶ And the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
3 Then Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
4 Then said Pilate to the princes of the priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.
6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad, for he was desirous to see him of a long season because he had heard many things of him, and he hoped to see some sign done by him.
9 Then he questioned with him in many words, but he answered him nothing.
10 And the princes of the priests and the scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
11 And Herod with his court despised him and mocked him and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him again to Pilate.
12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at enmity between themselves.
13 ¶ Then Pilate, calling together the princes of the priests and the rulers and the people,
14 said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me as one that perverts the people; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things of which ye accuse him;
15 no, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him; and, behold, he has done nothing worthy of death.
16 I will therefore chastise him and release him.
17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas
19 (who for a certain sedition made in the city and for murder was cast into prison).
20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them.
21 But they cried, saying, crucify him, crucify him. {Gr. stauroo – hang him on a stake}
22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him; I will therefore chastise him and let him go.
23 And they insisted with loud voices, asking that he be crucified. And the voices of them and of the princes of the priests prevailed.
24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be according to their request.
25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder had been cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
26 ¶ And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, {Gr. stauros – stake} that he might bear it after Jesus.
27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, who also bewailed and lamented him.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 For, behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bare and the breasts which never gave suck.
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31 For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
32 ¶ And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called of the Skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the princes also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar
37 and saying, If thou art the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a supion also was written over him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou art the Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 ¶ And when it was about the sixth hour, there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit; and having said thus, he gave up the spirit.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, returned smiting their breasts.
49 And all his acquaintance and the women that had followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
50 ¶ And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a senator; and he was a good man and just
51 (the same had not consented in the counsel nor in their deeds); he was of Arimathaea, a city of Judea, who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53 And he took it down and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, where no one had ever been placed.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women who had come with him from Galilee also followed after and beheld the sepulchre and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
23 ¶ And the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
3 Then Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
4 Then said Pilate to the princes of the priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.
6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad, for he was desirous to see him of a long season because he had heard many things of him, and he hoped to see some sign done by him.
9 Then he questioned with him in many words, but he answered him nothing.
10 And the princes of the priests and the scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
11 And Herod with his court despised him and mocked him and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him again to Pilate.
12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at enmity between themselves.
13 ¶ Then Pilate, calling together the princes of the priests and the rulers and the people,
14 said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me as one that perverts the people; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things of which ye accuse him;
15 no, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him; and, behold, he has done nothing worthy of death.
16 I will therefore chastise him and release him.
17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas
19 (who for a certain sedition made in the city and for murder was cast into prison).
20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them.
21 But they cried, saying, crucify him, crucify him. {Gr. stauroo – hang him on a stake}
22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him; I will therefore chastise him and let him go.
23 And they insisted with loud voices, asking that he be crucified. And the voices of them and of the princes of the priests prevailed.
24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be according to their request.
25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder had been cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
26 ¶ And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, {Gr. stauros – stake} that he might bear it after Jesus.
27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, who also bewailed and lamented him.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 For, behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bare and the breasts which never gave suck.
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31 For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
32 ¶ And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called of the Skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the princes also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar
37 and saying, If thou art the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a supion also was written over him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou art the Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 ¶ And when it was about the sixth hour, there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit; and having said thus, he gave up the spirit.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, returned smiting their breasts.
49 And all his acquaintance and the women that had followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
Copyright © 2013, 2020 by Ransom Press International