Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

123 If it had not been that the Lord was with us, let Israel now say:

² If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up against us,

³ Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled against us,

⁴ Perhaps the waters had swallowed us up.

⁵ Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had passed through a water insupportable.

⁶ Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth.

⁷ Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered.

⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

21 Then Job answered, and said:

¹⁷ How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?

¹⁸ They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.

¹⁹ God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.

²⁰ His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

²¹ For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?

²² Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?

²³ One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.

²⁴ His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

²⁵ But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:

²⁶ And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.

²⁷ Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.

²⁸ For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

²⁹ Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.

³⁰ Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.

³¹ Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

³² He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.

³³ He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.

³⁴ How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?

¹ The ancient to the lady Elect, and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth,

² For the sake of the truth which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

³ Grace be with you, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus the Son of the Father; in truth and charity.

⁴ I was exceeding glad, that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

⁵ And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing a new commandment to thee, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

⁶ And this is charity, that we walk according to his commandments. For this is the commandment, that, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in the same:

⁷ For many seducers are gone out into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh: this is a seducer and an antichrist.

⁸ Look to yourselves, that you lose not the things which you have wrought: but that you may receive a full reward.

⁹ Whosoever revolteth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father and the Son.

¹⁰ If any man come to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house nor say to him, God speed you.

¹¹ For he that saith unto him, God speed you, communicateth with his wicked works.

¹² Having more things to write unto you, I would not by paper and ink: for I hope that I shall be with you, and speak face to face: that your joy may be full.

¹³ The children of thy sister Elect salute thee.