Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 103

Of David.

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

³² While the Israelites were in the wilderness,^(A) a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.^{(B) 33} Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, ³⁴ and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.^{(C) 35} Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die.^(D) The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.^(E)” ³⁶ So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him^(F) to death,^(G) as the Lord commanded Moses.^(H)

Tassels on Garments

³⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ³⁸ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come^(I) you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments,^(J) with a blue cord on each tassel. ³⁹ You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember^(K) all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves^(L) by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts^(M) and eyes. ⁴⁰ Then you will remember to obey all my commands^(N) and will be consecrated to your God.^{(O) 41} I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God.^(P) I am the Lord your God.^(Q)’”

³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary^(A) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.^{(B) 5} And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.^(F) For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline^(G)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits^(H) and live!^{(I) 10} They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^{(J) 11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace^(K) for those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.^{(L) 13} “Make level paths for your feet,”^[b](M) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.^(N)

Warning and Encouragement

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone^(O) and to be holy;^(P) without holiness no one will see the Lord.^{(Q) 15} See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God^(R) and that no bitter root^(S) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ¹⁶ See that no one is sexually immoral,^(T) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.^{(U) 17} Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,^(V) he could not change what he had done.