Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
BOOK 1
The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.
1 How blessed is the man who (A)does not walk in the (B)counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the [a](C)path of sinners,
Nor (D)sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his (E)delight is (F)in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates (G)day and (H)night.
3 He will be like (I)a tree firmly planted by [b]streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its [c]leaf does not wither;
And [d]in whatever he does, (J)he prospers.
10 “For thus says the Lord, ‘When (A)seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My (B)good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the (C)plans that I [a]have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for (D)welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a (E)hope. 12 Then you will (F)call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will (G)listen to you. 13 You will (H)seek Me and find Me when you (I)search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be (J)found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will (K)restore your [b]fortunes and will (L)gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will (M)bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’
15 “Because you have said, ‘The Lord has raised up (N)prophets for us in Babylon’— 16 for thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your brothers who did (O)not go with you into exile— 17 thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Behold, I am sending upon them the (P)sword, famine and pestilence, and I will make them like (Q)split-open figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, with famine and with pestilence; and I will (R)make them a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a (S)curse and a horror and a (T)hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19 because they have (U)not listened to My words,’ declares the Lord, ‘which I sent to them again and again by (V)My servants the prophets; but you did not listen,’ declares the Lord.
13 (A)Be on the alert, (B)stand firm in the faith, (C)act like men, (D)be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done (E)in love.
15 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the (F)household of Stephanas, that [a]they were the (G)first fruits of (H)Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for (I)ministry to (J)the saints), 16 that (K)you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 17 I rejoice over the [b](L)coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have [c]supplied (M)what was lacking on your part. 18 For they (N)have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore (O)acknowledge such men.
19 The churches of (P)Asia greet you. (Q)Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with (R)the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. (S)Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 The greeting is in (T)my own hand—[d]Paul. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be [e](U)accursed. [f](V)Maranatha. 23 (W)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.