Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
11 I will remember the works of the Lord.
Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago.[a]
12 I will think about all you have done;
I will reflect upon your deeds.”
13 [b] O God, your deeds are extraordinary.[c]
What god can compare to our great God?[d]
14 You are the God who does amazing things;
you have revealed your strength among the nations.
15 You delivered[e] your people by your strength[f]—
the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)
16 The waters[g] saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and trembled.[h]
Yes, the depths of the sea[i] shook with fear.[j]
17 The clouds poured down rain;[k]
the skies thundered.[l]
Yes, your arrows[m] flashed about.
18 Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind;
the lightning bolts lit up the world.
The earth trembled and shook.[n]
19 You walked through the sea;[o]
you passed through the surging waters,[p]
but left no footprints.[q]
20 You led your people like a flock of sheep,
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Elijah Confronts the King and His Commanders
1 After Ahab died, Moab rebelled against Israel.[a] 2 Ahaziah fell through a window lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria and was injured. He sent messengers with these orders,[b] “Go, ask[c] Baal Zebub,[d] the god of Ekron, if I will survive this injury.”
3 But the angel of the Lord told Elijah the Tishbite, “Get up; go to meet the messengers from the king of Samaria. Say this to them: ‘You must think there is no God in Israel! That explains why you are on your way to seek an oracle from Baal Zebub the god of Ekron.[e] 4 Therefore this is what the Lord has said, “You will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die!”’” So Elijah went on his way.
5 When the messengers returned to the king,[f] he asked them, “Why have you returned?” 6 They replied,[g] “A man came up to meet us. He told us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘You must think there is no God in Israel! That explains why you are sending for an oracle from Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron.[h] Therefore you will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die.’”’” 7 The king[i] asked them, “Describe the appearance[j] of this man who came up to meet you and told you these things.” 8 They replied,[k] “He was a hairy[l] man and had a leather belt[m] tied around his waist.” The king[n] said, “He is Elijah the Tishbite.”
9 The king[o] sent a captain and his fifty soldiers[p] to retrieve Elijah.[q] The captain[r] went up to him while he was sitting on the top of a hill.[s] He told him, “Prophet,[t] the king says, ‘Come down!’” 10 Elijah replied to the captain,[u] “If I am indeed a prophet, may fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty soldiers!” Fire then came down[v] from the sky and consumed him and his fifty soldiers.
11 The king[w] sent another captain and his fifty soldiers to retrieve Elijah. He went up and told him,[x] “Prophet, this is what the king says, ‘Come down at once!’”[y] 12 Elijah replied to them,[z] “If I am indeed a prophet, may fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty soldiers!” Fire from God[aa] came down from the sky and consumed him and his fifty soldiers.
Heirs of Promise Are Not to Return to Law
8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.[a] 9 But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless[b] basic forces?[c] Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?[d] 10 You are observing religious[e] days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. 12 I beg you, brothers and sisters,[f] become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!
Personal Appeal of Paul
13 But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you, 14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me.[g] Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God,[h] as though I were Christ Jesus himself![i] 15 Where then is your sense of happiness[j] now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me! 16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?[k]
17 They court you eagerly,[l] but for no good purpose;[m] they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.[n] 18 However, it is good[o] to be sought eagerly[p] for a good purpose[q] at all times, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children—I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you![r] 20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice,[s] because I am perplexed about you.
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