Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

5 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria; he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. ² The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little girl, and she waited on Naaman’s wife. ³ She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”

⁴ Someone went in and told his lord, saying, “The girl who is from the land of Israel said this.”

⁵ The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

He departed, and took with him ten talents^[a] of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. ⁶ He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.”

⁷ When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.”

⁸ It was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

⁹ So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. ¹⁰ Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.”

¹¹ But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’ ¹² Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

¹³ His servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

¹⁴ Then went he down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

A Psalm. A Song for the Dedication of the Temple. By David.

6 Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself, and not in someone else. ⁵ For each man will bear his own burden.

⁶ But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.

⁷ Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

¹¹ See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand. ¹² As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh compel you to be circumcised, just so they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, so that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. ¹⁶ As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel.

10 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him^[a] into every city and place where he was about to come. ² Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. ³ Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. ⁴ Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. ⁵ Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ ⁶ If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house. ⁸ Into whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But into whatever city you enter and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’

¹⁶ Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

¹⁷ The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

¹⁸ He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. ²⁰ Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”