Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

118 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

² Blessed are they who search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart.

¹⁴ I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.

¹⁵ I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy ways.

¹⁶ I will think of thy justifications: I will not forget thy words.

¹⁷ GIMEL. Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy words.

¹⁸ Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.

¹⁹ I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

²⁰ My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all times.

²¹ Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.

²² Remove from reproach and contempt: because I have sought after thy testimonies.

²³ For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.

²⁴ For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel.

¹⁶ For the five kings were fled, and had hidden themselves in a cave of the city of Maceda.

¹⁷ And it was told Josue that the five kings were found hidden in a cave of the city of Maceda.

¹⁸ And he commanded them that were with him, saying: Roll great stones to the mouth of the cave, and set careful men, to keep them shut up:

¹⁹ And stay you not, but pursue after the enemies, and kill all the hindermost of them as they flee, and do not suffer them whom the Lord God hath delivered into your hands to shelter themselves in their cities.

²⁰ So the enemies being slain with a great slaughter, and almost utterly consumed, they that were able to escape from Israel, entered into fenced cities.

²¹ And all the army returned to Josue in Maceda, where the camp then was, in good health and without the loss of any one: and no man durst move his tongue against the children of Israel.

²² And Josue gave orders, saying: Open the mouth of the cave, and bring forth to me the five kings that lie hid therein.

²³ And the ministers did as they were commanded: and they brought out to him the five kings out of the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jerimoth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon.

²⁴ And when they were Drought out to him, he called all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the army that were with him: Go, and set your feet on the necks of these kings. And when they had gone, and put their feet upon the necks of them lying under them,

²⁵ He said again to them: Fear not, neither be ye dismayed, take courage and be strong: for so will the Lord do to all your enemies, against whom you fight.

²⁶ And Josue struck, and slew them, and hanged them upon five gibbets, and they hung until the evening.

²⁷ And when the sun was down, he commanded the soldiers to take them down from the gibbets. And after they were taken down, they cast them into the cave where they had lain hid, and put great stones at the mouth thereof, which remain until this day.

⁶ Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven corrupteth the whole lump?

⁷ Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you are unleavened. For Christ our pasch is sacrificed.

⁸ Therefore let us feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.