Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 111[a]
1 Praise the Lord.[b]
I will extol the Lord(A) with all my heart(B)
in the council(C) of the upright and in the assembly.(D)
2 Great are the works(E) of the Lord;
they are pondered by all(F) who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures(G) forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.(H)
5 He provides food(I) for those who fear him;(J)
he remembers his covenant(K) forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,(L)
giving them the lands of other nations.(M)
7 The works of his hands(N) are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.(O)
8 They are established for ever(P) and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption(Q) for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome(R) is his name.
The Numbering of the Levite Clans
34 Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites(A) by their clans and families. 35 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(B) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 36 counted by clans, were 2,750. 37 This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans(C) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.
38 The Gershonites(D) were counted by their clans and families. 39 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 40 counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. 41 This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.
42 The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. 43 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(E) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 44 counted by their clans, were 3,200. 45 This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.(F) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.
46 So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted(G) all the Levites by their clans and families. 47 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(H) who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting 48 numbered 8,580.(I) 49 At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.
Thus they were counted,(J) as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Purity of the Camp
5 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has a defiling skin disease[a](K) or a discharge(L) of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean(M) because of a dead body.(N) 3 Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.(O)” 4 The Israelites did so; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
The Appeal Renewed
2 You then, my son,(A) be strong(B) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say(C) in the presence of many witnesses(D) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering,(E) like a good soldier(F) of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown(G) except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.(H) 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
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