Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 34[a][b]
Of David. When he pretended to be insane(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;(B)
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory(C) in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(D)
3 Glorify the Lord(E) with me;
let us exalt(F) his name together.
4 I sought the Lord,(G) and he answered me;
he delivered(H) me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;(I)
their faces are never covered with shame.(J)
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.(K)
7 The angel of the Lord(L) encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers(M) them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;(N)
blessed is the one who takes refuge(O) in him.
9 Fear the Lord,(P) you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.(Q)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(R)
11 Come, my children, listen(S) to me;
I will teach you(T) the fear of the Lord.(U)
12 Whoever of you loves life(V)
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(W) from evil
and your lips from telling lies.(X)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(Y)
seek peace(Z) and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord(AA) are on the righteous,(AB)
and his ears are attentive(AC) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(AD) those who do evil,(AE)
to blot out their name(AF) from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(AG) them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(AH) to the brokenhearted(AI)
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders(A) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(B) 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(C) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,(D) so that the people will hear me speaking(E) with you and will always put their trust(F) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(G) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(H) 11 and be ready by the third day,(I) because on that day the Lord will come down(J) on Mount Sinai(K) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(L) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned(M) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn(N) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(O)
14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.(P) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain(Q) from sexual relations.”
16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(R) and lightning, with a thick cloud(S) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(T) Everyone in the camp trembled.(U) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(V) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(W) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(X) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(Y) and the whole mountain[a] trembled(Z) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(AA) of God answered(AB) him.[b]
20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(AC) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up
A Call to Persevere
17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles(A) of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.(B) 18 They said to you, “In the last times(C) there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”(D) 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.(E)
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up(F) in your most holy faith(G) and praying in the Holy Spirit,(H) 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait(I) for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.(J)
22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire;(K) to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.[a](L)
Doxology
24 To him who is able(M) to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence(N) without fault(O) and with great joy— 25 to the only God(P) our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!(Q) Amen.(R)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.