Friday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Genesis 14:17-24

Verse 17. After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Verse 18. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine — since he was priest of God Most High — Verse 19. and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, Verse 20. and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. Verse 21. The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the goods for yourself.” Verse 22. But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, Verse 23. that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ Verse 24. I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me— Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”

PSALM

Psalm 33:1-12

Rejoice in the LORD, O righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.

Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings.

Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.

For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy.

The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His loving devotion.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.

He piles up the waters of the sea; He puts the depths into storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him.

For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.

The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.

The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Lamentations 3:40-58

Verse 40. Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD. Verse 41. Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven: Verse 42. “We have sinned and rebelled; You have not forgiven.” Verse 43. You have covered Yourself in anger and pursued us; You have killed without pity. Verse 44. You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through. Verse 45. You have made us scum and refuse among the nations. Verse 46. All our enemies open their mouths against us. Verse 47. Panic and pitfall have come upon us — devastation and destruction. Verse 48. Streams of tears flow from my eyes over the destruction of the daughter of my people. Verse 49. My eyes overflow unceasingly, without relief, Verse 50. until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees. Verse 51. My eyes bring grief to my soul because of all the daughters of my city. Verse 52. Without cause my enemies hunted me like a bird. Verse 53. They dropped me alive into a pit and cast stones upon me. Verse 54. The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die. Verse 55. I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the depths of the Pit. Verse 56. You heard my plea: “Do not ignore my cry for relief.” Verse 57. You drew near when I called on You; You said, “Do not be afraid.” Verse 58. You defend my cause, O Lord; You redeem my life.

PSALM

Psalm 50:7-15

“Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.

I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.

I have no need for a bull from your stall or goats from your pens,

for every beast of the forest is Mine — the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

SECOND READING

Acts 28:1-10

Verse 1. Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. Verse 2. The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. Verse 3. Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. Verse 4. When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” Verse 5. But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. Verse 6. The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. Verse 7. Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. Verse 8. The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man. Verse 9. After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well. Verse 10. The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.