Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

2 Kings 9:1-13

Verse 1. Now Elisha the prophet summoned one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak under your belt, take this flask of oil, and go to Ramoth-gilead. Verse 2. When you arrive, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go in, get him away from his companions, and take him to an inner room. Verse 3. Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and declare, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run. Do not delay!” Verse 4. So the young prophet went to Ramoth-gilead, Verse 5. and when he arrived, the army commanders were sitting there. “I have a message for you, commander,” he said. “For which of us?” asked Jehu. “For you, commander,” he replied. Verse 6. So Jehu got up and went into the house, where the young prophet poured the oil on his head and declared, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the LORD’s people Israel. Verse 7. And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel. Verse 8. The whole house of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, both slave and free, in Israel. Verse 9. I will make the house of Ahab like the houses of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. Verse 10. And on the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour Jezebel, and there will be no one to bury her.’” Then the young prophet opened the door and ran. Verse 11. When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?” “You know his kind and their babble,” he replied. Verse 12. “That is a lie!” they said. “Tell us now!” So Jehu answered, “He talked to me about this and that, saying, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’” Verse 13. Quickly, each man took his garment and put it under Jehu on the bare steps. Then they blew the ram’s horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”

PSALM

Psalm 59

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me.

Deliver me from workers of iniquity, and save me from men of bloodshed.

See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.

For no fault of my own, they move swiftly to attack me. Arise to help me, and take notice.

O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to the wicked traitors.

They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.

See what they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips: “For who can hear us?”

But You, O LORD, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations.

I will keep watch for You, O my strength, because You, O God, are my fortress.

My God of loving devotion will come to meet me; God will let me stare down my foes.

Do not kill them, or my people will forget. Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.

By the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride, in the curses and lies they utter.

Consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, so it may be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob.

They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.

They scavenge for food, and growl if they are not satisfied.

But I will sing of Your strength and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning. For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

To You, O my strength, I sing praises, for You, O God, are my fortress, my God of loving devotion.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Job 18:1-21

Verse 1. Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: Verse 2. “How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk. Verse 3. Why are we regarded as cattle, as stupid in your sight? Verse 4. You who tear yourself in anger— should the earth be forsaken on your account, or the rocks be moved from their place? Verse 5. Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow. Verse 6. The light in his tent grows dark, and the lamp beside him goes out. Verse 7. His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up. Verse 8. For his own feet lead him into a net, and he wanders into its mesh. Verse 9. A trap seizes his heel; a snare grips him. Verse 10. A noose is hidden in the ground, and a trap lies in his path. Verse 11. Terrors frighten him on every side and harass his every step. Verse 12. His strength is depleted, and calamity is ready at his side. Verse 13. It devours patches of his skin; the firstborn of death devours his limbs. Verse 14. He is torn from the shelter of his tent and is marched off to the king of terrors. Verse 15. Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur rains down on his dwelling. Verse 16. The roots beneath him dry up, and the branches above him wither away. Verse 17. The memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the land. Verse 18. He is driven from light into darkness and is chased from the inhabited world. Verse 19. He has no offspring or posterity among his people, no survivor where he once lived. Verse 20. Those in the west are appalled at his fate, while those in the east tremble in horror. Verse 21. Surely such is the dwelling of the wicked and the place of one who does not know God.”

PSALM

Psalm 64

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear, O God, my voice of complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,

who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.

They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.

They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded.

They will be made to stumble, their own tongues turned against them. All who see will shake their heads.

Then all mankind will fear and proclaim the work of God; so they will ponder what He has done.

Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in Him; let all the upright in heart exult.

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Verse 18. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Verse 19. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Verse 20. Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? Verse 21. For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Verse 22. Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, Verse 23. but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, Verse 24. but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Verse 25. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. Verse 26. Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. Verse 27. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Verse 28. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, Verse 29. so that no one may boast in His presence. Verse 30. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Verse 31. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”