Bible Society of South Africa

Season after Pentecost: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

First reading and Psalm

The Ten Commandments

1God spoke, and these were his words: 2“I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves.

3“Worship no god but me.

4“Do not make for yourselves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth.

Exodus 20:1-4GNBOpen in Bible reader

7“Do not use my name for evil purposes, for I, the LORD your God, will punish anyone who misuses my name.

8“Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. 9You have six days in which to do your work,

Exodus 20:7-9GNBOpen in Bible reader

12“Respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you.

13“Do not commit murder.

14“Do not commit adultery.

15“Do not steal.

16“Do not accuse anyone falsely.

17“Do not desire another man's house; do not desire his wife, his slaves, his cattle, his donkeys, or anything else that he owns.”

The People's Fear

18When the people heard the thunder and the trumpet blast and saw the lightning and the smoking mountain, they trembled with fear and stood a long way off. 19They said to Moses, “If you speak to us, we will listen; but we are afraid that if God speaks to us, we will die.”

20Moses replied, “Don't be afraid; God has only come to test you and make you keep on obeying him, so that you will not sin.”

Exodus 20:12-20GNBOpen in Bible reader

God's Glory in Creation

1How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!

How plainly it shows what he has done!

2Each day announces it to the following day;

each night repeats it to the next.

3No speech or words are used,

no sound is heard;

4yet their message goes out to all the world

and is heard to the ends of the earth.

God made a home in the sky for the sun;

5it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom,

like an athlete eager to run a race.

6It starts at one end of the sky

and goes across to the other.

Nothing can hide from its heat.

The Law of the LORD

7The law of the LORD is perfect;

it gives new strength.

The commands of the LORD are trustworthy,

giving wisdom to those who lack it.

8The laws of the LORD are right,

and those who obey them are happy.

The commands of the LORD are just

and give understanding to the mind.

9Reverence for the LORD is good;

it will continue for ever.

The judgements of the LORD are just;

they are always fair.

10They are more desirable than the finest gold;

they are sweeter than the purest honey.

11They give knowledge to me, your servant;

I am rewarded for obeying them.

12No one can see his own errors;

deliver me, LORD, from hidden faults!

13Keep me safe, also, from wilful sins;

don't let them rule over me.

Then I shall be perfect

and free from the evil of sin.

14May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you,

O LORD, my refuge and my redeemer!

Psalms 19:1-14GNBOpen in Bible reader
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