February 23, 2021
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Ninth Day of Great Lent
I Samuel 1:23-2:26
Proverbs 2:1-3:10
Jeremiah 1:11-2:3
I Samuel 1:23-2:26
[23] Elka’nah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
[24] And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine; and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young.
[25] Then they slew the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.
[26] And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD.
[27] For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me my petition which I made to him.
[28] Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.”
And they worshiped the LORD there.
Chapter 2
[1] Hannah also prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the LORD;
my strength is exalted in the LORD.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in thy salvation.
[2] “There is none holy like the LORD,
there is none besides thee;
there is no rock like our God.
[3] Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
[4] The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble gird on strength.
[5] Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
[6] The LORD kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
[7] The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low, he also exalts.
[8] He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S,
and on them he has set the world.
[9] “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones;
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;
for not by might shall a man prevail.
[10] The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king,
and exalt the power of his anointed.”
[11] Then Elka’nah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the LORD, in the presence of Eli the priest.
[12] Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they had no regard for the LORD.
[13] The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,
[14] and he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. So they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
[15] Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw.”
[16] And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.”
[17] Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD; for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.
[18] Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy girded with a linen ephod.
[19] And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
[20] Then Eli would bless Elka’nah and his wife, and say, “The LORD give you children by this woman for the loan which she lent to the LORD”; so then they would return to their home.
[21] And the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.
[22] Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
[23] And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.
[24] No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad.
[25] If a man sins against a man, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the LORD to slay them.
[26] Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men.
Proverbs 2:1-3:10
[1] My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
[2] making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
[3] yes, if you cry out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
[4] if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures;
[5] then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
[6] For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
[7] he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
[8] guarding the paths of justice
and preserving the way of his saints.
[9] Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
[10] for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
[11] discretion will watch over you;
understanding will guard you;
[12] delivering you from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech,
[13] who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,
[14] who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil;
[15] men whose paths are crooked,
and who are devious in their ways.
[16] You will be saved from the loose woman,
from the adventuress with her smooth words,
[17] who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
[18] for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the shades;
[19] none who go to her come back
nor do they regain the paths of life.
[20] So you will walk in the way of good men
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
[21] For the upright will inhabit the land,
and men of integrity will remain in it;
[22] but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.
Chapter 3
[1] My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments;
[2] for length of days and years of life
and abundant welfare will they give you.
[3] Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them about your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
[4] So you will find favor and good repute
in the sight of God and man.
[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
[6] In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
[7] Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
[8] It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
[9] Honor the LORD with your substance
and with the first fruits of all your produce;
[10] then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Jeremiah 1:11-2:3
[11] And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a rod of almond.”
[12] Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
[13] The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.”
[14] Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
[15] For, lo, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, says the LORD; and they shall come and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
[16] And I will utter my judgments against them, for all their wickedness in forsaking me; they have burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.
[17] But you, gird up your loins; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.
[18] And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land.
[19] They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you.”
Chapter 2
[1] The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
[2] “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, I remember the devotion of your youth,
your love as a bride,
how you followed me in the wilderness,
in a land not sown.
[3] Israel was holy to the LORD,
the first fruits of his harvest.
All who ate of it became guilty;
evil came upon them, says the LORD.”
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible is copyright © National Council of Churches of Christ in America
Tag:lectionary