Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Exodus 1:1-7

Verse 1. These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: Verse 2. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Verse 3. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; Verse 4. Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. Verse 5. The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all, including Joseph, who was already in Egypt. Verse 6. Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, Verse 7. but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

PSALM

Psalm 8

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.

From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.

When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place —

what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?

You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet:

all sheep and oxen, and even the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

1 Samuel 7:3-13

Verse 3. Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” Verse 4. So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD. Verse 5. Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.” Verse 6. When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah. Verse 7. When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines Verse 8. and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” Verse 9. Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. Verse 10. As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel. Verse 11. Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car. Verse 12. Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” Verse 13. So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

PSALM

Psalm 18:1-3, 20-32

For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love You, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.

For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.

For all His ordinances are before me; I have not disregarded His statutes.

And I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity.

So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;

to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.

For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.

For You, O LORD, light my lamp; my God lights up my darkness.

For in You I can charge an army, and with my God I can scale a wall.

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear.

SECOND READING

Romans 2:1-11

Verse 1. You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Verse 2. And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. Verse 3. So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Verse 4. Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? Verse 5. But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. Verse 6. God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” Verse 7. To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life. Verse 8. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. Verse 9. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek; Verse 10. but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek. Verse 11. For God does not show favoritism.