Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
ה He
33 Teach me,(A) Lord, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.[a]
34 Give me understanding,(B) so that I may keep your law(C)
and obey it with all my heart.(D)
35 Direct me(E) in the path of your commands,(F)
for there I find delight.(G)
36 Turn my heart(H) toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.(I)
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life(J) according to your word.[b](K)
38 Fulfill your promise(L) to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace(M) I dread,
for your laws are good.
40 How I long(N) for your precepts!
In your righteousness preserve my life.(O)
Ezekiel’s Wife Dies
15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, with one blow(A) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.(B) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.(C) 17 Groan quietly;(D) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban(E) fastened and your sandals(F) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard(G) or eat the customary food of mourners.(H)”
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.(I)
19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?(J) Why are you acting like this?”
20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary(K)—the stronghold in which you take pride,(L) the delight of your eyes,(M) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters(N) you left behind will fall by the sword.(O) 22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard(P) or eat the customary food of mourners.(Q) 23 You will keep your turbans(R) on your heads and your sandals(S) on your feet. You will not mourn(T) or weep but will waste away(U) because of[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.(V) 24 Ezekiel(W) will be a sign(X) to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’
25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,(Y) their heart’s desire,(Z) and their sons and daughters(AA) as well— 26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you(AB) the news. 27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.(AC) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.(AD)”
15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[a](A)
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.(B) For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[b](C) 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,(D) and the message is heard through the word about Christ.(E) 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
“I will make you envious(G) by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”[d](H)
20 And Isaiah boldly says,
“I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”[e](I)
21 But concerning Israel he says,
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