Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Job 15:1-35

Verse 1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: Verse 2. “Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind? Verse 3. Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose? Verse 4. But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him. Verse 5. For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty. Verse 6. Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you. Verse 7. Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills? Verse 8. Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself? Verse 9. What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us? Verse 10. Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side — men much older than your father. Verse 11. Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you? Verse 12. Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash, Verse 13. so that you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth? Verse 14. What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? Verse 15. If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes, Verse 16. how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water? Verse 17. Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen, Verse 18. what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers, Verse 19. to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them. Verse 20. A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless. Verse 21. Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him. Verse 22. He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword. Verse 23. He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand. Verse 24. Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack. Verse 25. For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty, Verse 26. rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield. Verse 27. Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh, Verse 28. he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble. Verse 29. He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land. Verse 30. He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away. Verse 31. Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward. Verse 32. It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish. Verse 33. He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms. Verse 34. For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery. Verse 35. They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”

PSALM

Psalm 55:1-15

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.

Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught

at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster upon me and resent me in their anger.

My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me.

Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.

How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain.

I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.”

O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.

Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.

Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.

For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.

But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.

We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 3:6-14

Verse 6. Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. Verse 7. I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. Verse 8. She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. Verse 9. Indifferent to her own infidelity, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. Verse 10. Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD. Verse 11. And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah. Verse 12. Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not be angry forever. Verse 13. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” Verse 14. “Return, O faithless children,” declares the LORD, “for I am your master, and I will take you — one from a city and two from a family — and bring you to Zion.

PSALM

Psalm 112

Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.

His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright — for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.

It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.

Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous man will be remembered forever.

He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

His heart is assured; he does not fear, until he looks in triumph on his foes.

He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.

SECOND READING

Matthew 5:27-36

Verse 27. You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ Verse 28. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Verse 29. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. Verse 30. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell. Verse 31. It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ Verse 32. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Verse 33. Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ Verse 34. But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; Verse 35. or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Verse 36. Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.