Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Mem

Jeremiah Is Spared

¹⁶ Then the officials and all the people ^(A)said to the priests and the prophets, “No ^(B)death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” ¹⁷ Then ^(C)some of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, ¹⁸ “^[a](D)Micah of Moresheth used to prophesy in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies has said:

¹⁹ Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah actually put him to death? Did he not ^(G)fear the Lord and plead for the favor of the Lord, and ^(H)the Lord relented of the disaster which He had pronounced against them? But we are ^(I)committing a great evil against our own lives!”

²⁰ Indeed, there was also a man who used to prophesy in the name of the Lord, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from ^(J)Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land words similar to all those of Jeremiah. ²¹ When King Jehoiakim and all his warriors and all the officials heard his words, then the ^(K)king sought to put him to death; but Uriah heard about it, and he was afraid, so he ^(L)fled and went to Egypt. ²² Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: ^(M)Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him, to Egypt. ²³ And they brought Uriah from Egypt and led him to King Jehoiakim, who ^(N)killed him with a sword and threw his dead body into the ^[c]burial place of the ^[d]common people.

²⁴ But the hand of ^(O)Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was ^(P)not handed over to the people to put him to death.

An Unashamed Worker

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and solemnly ^(A)exhort them in the presence of God not to ^(B)dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the listeners. ¹⁵ Be diligent to ^(C)present yourself approved to God as a worker who ^[a]does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling ^(D)the word of truth. ¹⁶ But ^(E)avoid ^(F)worldly and empty chatter, for ^[b]it will lead to further ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their ^[c]talk will spread like ^[d]gangrene. Among them are ^(G)Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that ^(H)the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing ^(I)the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the ^(J)firm foundation of God stands, having this ^(K)seal: “^(L)The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “^(M)Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”

²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and ^(N)some are for honor while others are for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from ^(O)these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, ^(P)prepared for every good work. ²² Now ^(Q)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, ^(R)faith, love, and peace with those who ^(S)call on the Lord ^(T)from a pure heart. ²³ But refuse foolish and ignorant ^(U)speculations, knowing that they ^(V)produce ^[e]quarrels. ^24 (W)The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, ^(X)skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, ^25 (Y)with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, ^(Z)if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to ^(AA)the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(AB)the snare of the devil, having been ^(AC)held captive ^[f]by him to do his will.