Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.(A)
15 There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!(B)
16 The Lord’s right hand is raised.
The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!” (C)
17 I will not die, but I will live
and proclaim what the Lord has done.(D)
18 The Lord disciplined me severely
but did not give me over to death.(E)
19 Open the gates of righteousness for me;
I will enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.(F)
20 This is the Lord’s gate;
the righteous will enter through it.(G)
21 I will give thanks to you
because you have answered me
and have become my salvation.(H)
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.(I)
23 This came from the Lord;
it is wondrous in our sight.(J)
24 This is the day the Lord has made;
let’s rejoice and be glad in it.(K)
Execution of the Five Kings
16 Now the five defeated kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17 It was reported to Joshua, “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”
18 Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and station men by it to guard the kings. 19 But as for the rest of you, don’t stay there. Pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Don’t let them enter their cities, for the Lord your God has handed them over to you.” 20 So Joshua and the Israelites finished inflicting a terrible slaughter on them until they were destroyed, although a few survivors ran away to the fortified cities. 21 The people returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. And no one dared to threaten the Israelites.
22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings to me out of there.” 23 That is what they did. They brought the five kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon to Joshua out of the cave. 24 When they had brought the kings to him, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the military commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks. 25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Be strong and courageous,(A) for the Lord will do this to all the enemies you fight.”
26 After this, Joshua struck them down and executed them. He hung[a] their bodies on five trees[b] and they were there until evening.(B) 27 At sunset Joshua commanded that they be taken down from the trees(C) and thrown into the cave where they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are still there today.(D)
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven[a](A) leavens the whole batch of dough?(B) 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover lamb(C) has been sacrificed.[b] 8 Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old leaven or with the leaven of malice and evil,(D) but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
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