Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
7 The law of the Lord is perfect
and preserves one’s life.[a]
The rules set down by the Lord[b] are reliable[c]
and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.[d]
8 The Lord’s precepts are fair[e]
and make one joyful.[f]
The Lord’s commands[g] are pure[h]
and give insight for life.[i]
9 The commands to fear the Lord are right[j]
and endure forever.[k]
The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy
and absolutely just.[l]
10 They are of greater value[m] than gold,
than even a great amount of pure gold;
they bring greater delight[n] than honey,
than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.
11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there;[o]
those who obey them receive a rich reward.[p]
12 Who can know all his errors?[q]
Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of.[r]
13 Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins;[s]
do not allow such sins to control me.[t]
Then I will be blameless,
and innocent of blatant[u] rebellion.
14 May my words and my thoughts
be acceptable in your sight,[v]
O Lord, my sheltering rock[w] and my redeemer.[x]
13 On the next day[a] Moses sat to judge[b] the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this[c] that you are doing for the people?[d] Why are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”
15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire[e] of God. 16 When they have a dispute,[f] it comes to me and I decide[g] between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws.”[h]
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What[i] you are doing is not good! 18 You will surely wear out,[j] both you and these people who are with you, for this is too[k] heavy a burden[l] for you; you are not able to do it by yourself. 19 Now listen to me,[m] I will give you advice, and may God be with you. You be a representative for the people to God,[n] and you bring[o] their disputes[p] to God; 20 warn[q] them of the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk[r] and the work they must do.[s] 21 But you choose[t] from the people capable men,[u] God-fearing men,[v] men of truth,[w] those who hate bribes,[x] and put them over the people[y] as rulers[z] of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 They will judge[aa] the people under normal circumstances,[ab] and every difficult case[ac] they will bring to you, but every small case[ad] they themselves will judge, so that[ae] you may make it easier for yourself,[af] and they will bear the burden[ag] with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you,[ah] then you will be able[ai] to endure,[aj] and all these people[ak] will be able to go[al] home[am] satisfied.”[an]
24 Moses listened to[ao] his father-in-law and did everything he had said. 25 Moses chose capable men from all Israel, and he made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring[ap] to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.
27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way,[aq] and so Jethro[ar] went[as] to his own land.[at]
13 When they saw the boldness[a] of Peter and John, and discovered[b] that they were uneducated[c] and ordinary[d] men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. 14 And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.[e] 15 But when they had ordered them to go outside the council,[f] they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain[g] to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign[h] has come about through them,[i] and we cannot deny it. 17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more[j] to anyone in this name.” 18 And they called them in and ordered[k] them not to speak or teach at all in the name[l] of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied,[m] “Whether it is right before God to obey[n] you rather than God, you decide, 20 for it is impossible[o] for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising[p] God for what had happened. 22 For the man, on whom this miraculous sign[q] of healing had been performed,[r] was over forty years old.
The Followers of Jesus Pray for Boldness
23 When they were released, Peter and John[s] went to their fellow believers[t] and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind[u] and said, “Master of all,[v] you who made the heaven, the earth,[w] the sea, and everything that is in them, 25 who said by the Holy Spirit through[x] your servant David our forefather,[y]
‘Why do the nations[z] rage,[aa]
and the peoples plot foolish[ab] things?
26 The kings of the earth stood together,[ac]
and the rulers assembled together,
against the Lord and against his[ad] Christ.’[ae]
27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against[af] your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,[ag] 28 to do as much as your power[ah] and your plan[ai] had decided beforehand[aj] would happen. 29 And now, Lord, pay attention to[ak] their threats, and grant[al] to your servants[am] to speak your message[an] with great courage,[ao] 30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs[ap] and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When[aq] they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken,[ar] and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak[as] the word of God[at] courageously.[au]
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