Lectionary 28, Year C

¹ Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. ² The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. ³ She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”

⁷ When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes, and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.” ⁸ It was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” ⁹ So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. ¹⁰ Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.” ¹¹ But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’ ¹² Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them, and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. ¹³ His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’ ” ¹⁴ Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. ¹⁵ He returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, “See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”

¹ Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. ² The LORD’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. ³ His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever. ⁴ He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. The LORD is gracious and merciful. ⁵ He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant. ⁶ He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. ⁷ The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure. ⁸ They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness. ⁹ He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome! ¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the offspring of David, according to my Good News, ⁹ in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ¹¹ This saying is trustworthy: “For if we died with him, we will also live with him. ¹² If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. ¹³ If we are faithless, he remains faithful; for he can’t deny himself.” ¹⁴ Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don’t argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear. ¹⁵ Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.