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Presentation of the Firstfruits
26 When[a] you enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you occupy it and live in it, 2 you must take the first of all the ground’s produce you harvest from the land the Lord your God is giving you, place it in a basket, and go to the place where he[b] chooses to locate his name.[c] 3 You must go to the priest in office at that time and say to him, “I declare today to the Lord your[d] God that I have come into the land that the Lord[e] promised[f] to our ancestors[g] to give us.” 4 The priest will then take the basket from you[h] and set it before the altar of the Lord your God. 5 Then you must affirm before the Lord your God, “A wandering[i] Aramean[j] was my ancestor,[k] and he went down to Egypt and lived there as a foreigner with a household few in number,[l] but there he became a great, powerful, and numerous people. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated and oppressed us, forcing us to do burdensome labor. 7 So we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and he[m] heard us and saw our humiliation, toil, and oppression. 8 Therefore the Lord brought us out of Egypt with tremendous strength and power,[n] as well as with great awe-inspiring signs and wonders. 9 Then he brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 So now, look! I have brought the first of the ground’s produce that you, Lord, have given me.” Then you must set it down before the Lord your God and worship before him.[o] 11 You will celebrate all the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family,[p] along with the Levites and the resident foreigners among you.
Presentation of the Third-year Tithe
12 When you finish tithing all[q] your income in the third year (the year of tithing), you must give it to the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows[r] so that they may eat to their satisfaction in your villages.[s] 13 Then you shall say before the Lord your God, “I have removed the sacred offering[t] from my house and given it to the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows just as you have commanded me.[u] I have not violated or forgotten your commandments. 14 I have not eaten anything when I was in mourning, or removed any of it while ceremonially unclean, or offered any of it to the dead;[v] I have obeyed you[w] and have done everything you have commanded me. 15 Look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us, just as you promised our ancestors—a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Narrative Interlude
16 Today the Lord your God is commanding you to keep these statutes and ordinances, something you must do with all your heart and soul.[x] 17 Today you have declared the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commandments, and ordinances, and obey him. 18 And today the Lord has declared you to be his special people (as he already promised you) so you may keep all his commandments. 19 Then[y] he will elevate you above all the nations he has made and you will receive praise, fame, and honor.[z] You will[aa] be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he has said.
The Assembly at Shechem
27 Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Pay attention to all the commandments[ab] I am giving[ac] you today. 2 When you cross the Jordan River[ad] to the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must erect great stones and cover[ae] them with plaster. 3 Then you must inscribe on them all the words of this law when you cross over, so that you may enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors,[af] said to you. 4 So when you cross the Jordan you must erect on Mount Ebal[ag] these stones about which I am commanding you today, and you must cover them with plaster. 5 Then you must build an altar there to the Lord your God, an altar of stones—do not use an iron tool on them. 6 You must build the altar of the Lord your God with whole stones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. 7 Also you must offer fellowship offerings and eat them there, rejoicing before the Lord your God. 8 You must inscribe on the stones all the words of this law, making them clear.”
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be quiet and pay attention, Israel. Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 You must obey him[ah] and keep his commandments and statutes that I am giving you today.” 11 Moreover, Moses commanded the people that day: 12 “The following tribes[ai] must stand to bless the people on Mount Gerizim when you cross the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these other tribes must stand for the curse on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
The Covenant Curses
14 “The Levites will call out to every Israelite[aj] with a loud voice: 15 ‘Cursed is the one[ak] who makes a carved or metal image—something abhorrent[al] to the Lord, the work of the craftsman[am]—and sets it up in a secret place.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’[an] 16 ‘Cursed[ao] is the one who disrespects[ap] his father and mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 17 ‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 18 ‘Cursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 19 ‘Cursed is the one who perverts justice for the resident foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 20 ‘Cursed is the one who goes to bed with[aq] his father’s former wife,[ar] for he dishonors his father.’[as] Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 21 ‘Cursed is the one who commits bestiality.’[at] Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 22 ‘Cursed is the one who goes to bed[au] with his sister, the daughter of either his father or mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 23 ‘Cursed is the one who goes to bed[av] with his mother-in-law.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 24 ‘Cursed is the one who kills[aw] his neighbor in private.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 25 ‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 26 ‘Cursed is the one who refuses to keep the words of this law.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
Jesus and Martha
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus[a] entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest.[b] 39 She[c] had a sister named Mary, who sat[d] at the Lord’s feet[e] and listened to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted[f] with all the preparations she had to make,[g] so[h] she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care[i] that my sister has left me to do all the work[j] alone? Tell[k] her to help me.” 41 But the Lord[l] answered her,[m] “Martha, Martha,[n] you are worried and troubled[o] about many things, 42 but one thing[p] is needed. Mary has chosen the best[q] part; it will not be taken away from her.”
Instructions on Prayer
11 Now[r] Jesus[s] was praying in a certain place. When[t] he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John[u] taught[v] his disciples.” 2 So he said to them, “When you pray,[w] say:
Father,[x] may your name be honored;[y]
may your kingdom come.[z]
3 Give us each day our daily bread,[aa]
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins[ab] against us.
And do not lead us into temptation.”[ac]
5 Then[ad] he said to them, “Suppose one of you[ae] has a friend, and you go to him[af] at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,[ag] 6 because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey,[ah] and I have nothing to set before[ai] him.’ 7 Then[aj] he will reply[ak] from inside, ‘Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed.[al] I cannot get up and give you anything.’[am] 8 I tell you, even though the man inside[an] will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man’s[ao] sheer persistence[ap] he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
9 “So[aq] I tell you: Ask,[ar] and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door[as] will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks[at] receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door[au] will be opened. 11 What father among you, if your[av] son asks for[aw] a fish, will give him a snake[ax] instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?[ay] 13 If you then, although you are[az] evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit[ba] to those who ask him!”
Psalm 76[a]
For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of Asaph, a song.
76 God has revealed himself in Judah;[b]
in Israel his reputation[c] is great.
2 He lives in Salem;[d]
he dwells in Zion.[e]
3 There he shattered the arrows,[f]
the shield, the sword, and the rest of the weapons of war.[g] (Selah)
4 You shine brightly and reveal your majesty,
as you descend from the hills where you killed your prey.[h]
5 The bravehearted[i] were plundered;[j]
they “fell asleep.”[k]
All the warriors were helpless.[l]
6 At the sound of your battle cry,[m] O God of Jacob,
both rider[n] and horse “fell asleep.”[o]
7 You are awesome! Yes, you!
Who can withstand your intense anger?[p]
8 From heaven you announced what their punishment would be.[q]
The earth[r] was afraid and silent
9 when God arose to execute judgment,
and to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. (Selah)
10 Certainly[s] your angry judgment upon men will bring you praise;[t]
you reveal your anger in full measure.[u]
11 Make vows to the Lord your God and repay them.
Let all those who surround him[v] bring tribute to the awesome one.
12 He humbles princes;[w]
the kings of the earth regard him as awesome.[x]
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