Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 3:12-16

Verse 12. Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” Verse 13. “Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.” Verse 14. Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” Verse 15. So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. Verse 16. Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.

PSALM

Psalm 68:24-35

They have seen Your procession, O God — the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.

The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.

Bless God in the great congregation; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.

There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah in their company, the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.

Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.

Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations, until it submits, bringing bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.

Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord—

to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.

Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.

O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Amos 9:1-4

Verse 1. I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said: “Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Topple them on the heads of all the people, and I will kill the rest with the sword. None of those who flee will get away; none of the fugitives will escape. Verse 2. Though they dig down to Sheol, from there My hand will take them; and though they climb up to heaven, from there I will pull them down. Verse 3. Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them. Verse 4. Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.”

PSALM

Psalm 142

A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.

I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.

Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.

Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.

I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.

Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me.

SECOND READING

Acts 23:12-35

Verse 12. When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. Verse 13. More than forty of them were involved in this plot. Verse 14. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. Verse 15. Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.” Verse 16. But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. Verse 17. Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” Verse 18. So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.” Verse 19. The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?” Verse 20. He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him. Verse 21. Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.” Verse 22. So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” Verse 23. Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night. Verse 24. Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.” Verse 25. And he wrote the following letter: Verse 26. Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. Verse 27. This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen, Verse 28. and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin. Verse 29. I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment. Verse 30. When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you. Verse 31. So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris. Verse 32. The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him. Verse 33. When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him. Verse 34. The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, Verse 35. he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.