Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

1 The burden that Habacuc the prophet saw.

² How long, O Lord, shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? shall I cry out to thee suffering violence, and thou wilt not save?

³ Why hast thou shewn me iniquity and grievance, to see rapine and injustice before me? and there is a judgment, but opposition is more powerful.

⁴ Therefore the law is torn in pieces, and judgment cometh not to the end: because the wicked prevaileth against the just, therefore wrong judgment goeth forth.

2 I will stand upon my watch, and fix my foot upon the tower: and I will watch, to see what will be said to me, and what I may answer to him that reproveth me.

² And the Lord answered me, and said: Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables: that he that readeth it may run over it.

³ For as yet the vision is far off, and it shall appear at the end, and shall not lie: if it make any delay, wait for it: for it shall surely come, and it shall not be slack.

⁴ Behold, he that is unbelieving, his soul shall not be right in himself: but the just shall live in his faith.

37 A psalm for David, for a remembrance of the sabbath.

² Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath.

³ For thy arrows are fastened in me: and thy hand hath been strong upon me.

⁴ There is no health in my flesh, because of thy wrath: there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins.

⁵ For my iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me.

⁶ My sores are putrified and corrupted, because of my foolishness.

⁷ I am become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I walked sorrowful all the day long.

⁸ For my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in my flesh.

⁹ I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the groaning of my heart.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus.

² To Timothy my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord.

³ I give thanks to God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience, that without ceasing, I have a remembrance of thee in my prayers, night and day.

⁴ Desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy,

⁵ Calling to mind that faith which is in thee unfeigned, which also dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice, and I am certain that in thee also.

⁶ For which cause I admonish thee, that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee, by the imposition of my hands.

⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of sobriety.

⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but labour with the gospel, according to the power of God,

⁹ Who hath delivered us and called us by his holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the times of the world.

¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the illumination of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath destroyed death, and hath brought to light life and incorruption by the gospel:

¹¹ Wherein I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles.

¹² For which cause I also suffer these things: but I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, against that day.

¹³ Hold the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith, and in the love which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ Keep the good thing committed to thy trust by the Holy Ghost, who dwelleth in us.

⁵ And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith.

⁶ And the Lord said: If you had faith like to a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this mulberry tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou transplanted into the sea: and it would obey you.

⁷ But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go, sit down to meat:

⁸ And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper, and gird thyself, and serve me, whilst I eat and drink, and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink?

⁹ Doth he thank that servant, for doing the things which he commanded him?

¹⁰ I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.