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Psalm 111

1  Alleluia.
      I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, ♦︎
   in the company of the faithful and in the congregation.
2  The works of the Lord are great, ♦︎
   sought out by all who delight in them.
3  His work is full of majesty and honour ♦︎
   and his righteousness endures for ever.
4  He appointed a memorial for his marvellous deeds; ♦︎
   the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
5  He gave food to those who feared him; ♦︎
   he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6  He showed 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 commandments are sure.
8  They stand fast for ever and ever; ♦︎
   they are done in truth and equity.
9  He sent redemption to his people;
      he commanded his covenant for ever; ♦︎
   holy and awesome is his name.
10  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
      a good understanding have those who live by it; ♦︎
   his praise endures for ever.

Aaron and Miriam Jealous of Moses

12While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had indeed married a Cushite woman); ²and they said, ‘Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?’ And the Lord heard it. ³Now the man Moses was very humble,^* more so than anyone else on the face of the earth. ⁴Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, ‘Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.’ So the three of them came out. ⁵Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. ⁶And he said, ‘Hear my words:
When there are prophets among you,
   I the Lord make myself known to them in visions;
   I speak to them in dreams.
⁷ Not so with my servant Moses;
   he is entrusted with all my house.
⁸ With him I speak face to face—clearly, not in riddles;
   and he beholds the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?’ ⁹And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.

10 When the cloud went away from over the tent, Miriam had become leprous,^* as white as snow. And Aaron turned towards Miriam and saw that she was leprous. ¹¹Then Aaron said to Moses, ‘Oh, my lord, do not punish us^* for a sin that we have so foolishly committed. ¹²Do not let her be like one stillborn, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother’s womb.’ ¹³And Moses cried to the Lord, ‘O God, please heal her.’ ¹⁴But the Lord said to Moses, ‘If her father had but spat in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp for seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.’ ¹⁵So Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days; and the people did not set out on the march until Miriam had been brought in again.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

12 Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy.^* When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ ¹³Then Jesus^* stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do choose. Be made clean.’ Immediately the leprosy^* left him. ¹⁴And he ordered him to tell no one. ‘Go’, he said, ‘and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.’ ¹⁵But now more than ever the word about Jesus^* spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. ¹⁶But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.