Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 29:8-23

Verse 8. For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from them. Verse 9. For they are falsely prophesying to you in My name; I have not sent them, declares the LORD.” Verse 10. For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place. Verse 11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Verse 12. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Verse 13. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Verse 14. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the LORD. I will restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile.” Verse 15. Because you may say, “The LORD has raised up for us prophets in Babylon,” Verse 16. this is what the LORD says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your brothers who did not go with you into exile— Verse 17. this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will send against them sword and famine and plague, and I will make them like rotten figs, so bad they cannot be eaten. Verse 18. I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth— a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations to which I banish them. Verse 19. I will do this because they have not listened to My words, declares the LORD,which I sent to them again and again through My servants the prophets. And neither have you exiles listened, declares the LORD.” Verse 20. So hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. Verse 21. This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying to you lies in My name: “I will deliver them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will kill them before your very eyes. Verse 22. Because of them, all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire!’ Verse 23. For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.”

PSALM

Psalm 102:1-17

A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You.

Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.

For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.

My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.

Through my loud groaning my skin hangs on my bones.

I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.

I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.

All day long my enemies taunt me; they ridicule me and curse me.

For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears

because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.

My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.

But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations.

You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor — the appointed time has come.

For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.

So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.

For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.

He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

2 Kings 5:15-19a

Verse 15. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” Verse 16. But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused. Verse 17. “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry. For your servant will never again make a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the LORD. Verse 18. Yet may the LORD forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.” Verse 19. “Go in peace,” said Elisha.

PSALM

Psalm 61

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been my refuge, a tower of strength against the enemy.

Let me dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.

For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance reserved for those who fear Your name.

Increase the days of the king’s life; may his years span many generations.

May he sit enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness to guard him.

Then I will ever sing praise to Your name and fulfill my vows day by day.

SECOND READING

Acts 26:24-29

Verse 24. At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!” Verse 25. But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety. Verse 26. For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. Verse 27. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Verse 28. Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?” Verse 29. “Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”