Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 75
God Judges the Wicked
For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph.(A) A song.
1 We give thanks to you, God;
we give thanks to you, for your name is near.(B)
People tell about your wondrous works.(C)
2 “When I choose a time,
I will judge fairly.(D)
3 When the earth and all its inhabitants shake,
I am the one who steadies its pillars.(E)Selah
4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn.(F)
5 Do not lift up your horn against heaven[a]
or speak arrogantly.’”(G)
6 Exaltation does not come
from the east, the west, or the desert,
7 for God is the Judge:
He brings down one and exalts another.(H)
8 For there is a cup in the Lord’s hand,
full of wine blended with spices, and he pours from it.
All the wicked of the earth will drink,
draining it to the dregs.(I)
9 As for me, I will tell about him forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.(J)
Moab’s Rebellion against Israel
4 King Mesha of Moab(A) was a sheep breeder. He used to pay(B) the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams,(C) 5 but when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.(D) 6 So King Joram marched out from Samaria at that time and mobilized all Israel. 7 Then he sent a message to King Jehoshaphat(E) of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me.(F) Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”
Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”(G)
8 He asked, “Which route should we take?”
He replied, “The route of the Wilderness of Edom.”
9 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom(H) set out. After they had traveled their indirect route for seven days, they had no water for the army or the animals with them.
10 Then the king of Israel said, “Oh no, the Lord has summoned these three kings, only to hand them over to Moab.”
11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s inquire of the Lord through him.”(I)
One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat,(J) who used to pour water on Elijah’s hands, is here.”
12 Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to him.(K)
13 However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “What do we have in common? Go to the prophets of your father and your mother!” (L)
But the king of Israel replied, “No, because it is the Lord who has summoned these three kings to hand them over to Moab.”
14 Elisha responded, “By the life of the Lord of Armies,(M) before whom I stand: If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah,(N) I wouldn’t look at you; I would not take notice of you. 15 Now, bring me a musician.”(O)
While the musician played,(P) the Lord’s hand(Q) came on Elisha. 16 Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’ 17 For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water,(R) and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ 18 This is easy in the Lord’s sight.(S) He will also hand Moab over to you.(T) 19 Then you will attack every fortified city and every choice city. You will cut down every good tree and stop up every spring. You will ruin every good piece of land with stones.”
20 About the time for the grain offering(U) the next morning, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.
Light versus Darkness
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath(A) is coming on the disobedient[a] because of these things. 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light(B) in the Lord. Walk as children of light(C)— 9 for the fruit of the light[b] consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth(D)— 10 testing(E) what is pleasing(F) to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless(G) works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made visible,(H) 14 for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said:
Consistency in the Christian Life
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time,[c](L) because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand(M) what the Lord’s will(N) is. 18 And don’t get drunk(O) with wine,(P) which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:(Q) 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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