Friday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 27:1-22

Verse 1. At the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD. Verse 2. This is what the LORD said to me: “Make for yourself a yoke out of leather straps and put it on your neck. Verse 3. Send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. Verse 4. Give them a message from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, to relay to their masters: Verse 5. By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please. Verse 6. So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him. Verse 7. All nations will serve him and his son and grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will enslave him. Verse 8. As for the nation or kingdom that does not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and does not place its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation by sword and famine and plague, declares the LORD, until I have destroyed it by his hand. Verse 9. But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ Verse 10. For they prophesy to you a lie that will serve to remove you from your land; I will banish you and you will perish. Verse 11. But the nation that will put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave in its own land, to cultivate it and reside in it, declares the LORD.” Verse 12. And to Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke the same message: “Put your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and live! Verse 13. Why should you and your people die by sword and famine and plague, as the LORD has decreed against any nation that does not serve the king of Babylon? Verse 14. Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say, ‘You must not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying to you a lie. Verse 15. For I have not sent them, declares the LORD, and yet they are prophesying falsely in My name; therefore I will banish you, and you will perish— you and the prophets who prophesy to you.” Verse 16. Then I said to the priests and to all this people, “This is what the LORD says: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, ‘Look, very soon now the articles from the house of the LORD will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying to you a lie. Verse 17. Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon and live! Why should this city become a ruin? Verse 18. If they are indeed prophets and the word of the LORD is with them, let them now plead with the LORD of Hosts that the articles remaining in the house of the LORD, in the palace of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem, not be taken to Babylon. Verse 19. For this is what the LORD of Hosts says about the pillars, the sea, the bases, and the rest of the articles that remain in this city, Verse 20. which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem. Verse 21. Yes, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about the articles that remain in the house of the LORD, in the palace of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem: Verse 22. ‘They will be carried to Babylon and will remain there until the day I attend to them again,’ declares the LORD. ‘Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.’”

PSALM

Psalm 66:1-12

For the choirmaster. A song. A Psalm. Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!

Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.

Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You.

All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You; they sing praise to Your name.”

Come and see the works of God; how awesome are His deeds toward mankind.

He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the waters on foot; there we rejoiced in Him.

He rules forever by His power; His eyes watch the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves.

Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of His praise be heard.

He preserves our lives and keeps our feet from slipping.

For You , O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.

You led us into the net; You laid burdens on our backs.

You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us into abundance.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Numbers 4:34-5:4

Text not available in the Berean Standard Bible.

PSALM

Psalm 111

Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Splendid and majestic is His work; His righteousness endures forever.

He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.

He has shown His people the power of His works by giving them the inheritance of the nations.

The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are trustworthy.

They are upheld forever and ever, enacted in truth and uprightness.

He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

SECOND READING

2 Timothy 2:1-7

Verse 1. You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Verse 2. And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well. Verse 3. Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Verse 4. A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him. Verse 5. Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules. Verse 6. The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops. Verse 7. Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.