Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁴ Remember me, O Eternal One, when You show kindness to Your people;
    don’t forget me when You are saving them.
⁵ That way I can know how good it is to be Your chosen people;
    that way I can celebrate the joy of Your nation;
    that way I can join those who belong to You in unending praise.

⁶ Like our ancestors, we have sinned;
    we have done wicked things.
⁷ When our ancestors were leaving Egypt,
    they did not consider Your marvelous acts.
They forgot Your overwhelming kindness to them
    and instead rebelled at the Red Sea.^[a]
8 Nevertheless, God saved them for the honor of His name
    so He could show His power to the world.
⁹ He gave the order, and the waters of the Red Sea dried up,
    and He led the people across the sea floor as though it were the wilderness.
¹⁰ That’s how He liberated them from their enemies
    and rescued them from the hand of their oppressors.
¹¹ After that the sea surged and covered their foes,
    and every one of them drowned in its waters.
¹² When God’s people saw what He did, they believed what He said
    and they sang praises to Him.

41 Eternal One: Keep quiet and listen to Me, lands along the seacoast;
        give the people of the nations a chance to regain their strength.
    Let them come close, all together, to speak their minds and present their case;
        let’s consider the facts and make a judgment.
²     Who brought up this eastern hero? Who called up his justice service?
        He lays nations at his feet and makes an end of their kings.
    With a thrust of his sword and the bend of his bow,
        this hero turns kings and their armies into dust.
³     With agility and speed unmatched, he chases them down
        and is himself unscathed, even though he is passing over unfamiliar land.
⁴     Who has performed these deeds and accomplished this purpose?
        Who calls each generation into being from the first on down?

It is I, the Eternal One your God.
    I am the first.
    And to the very last, I am the One.

⁵ The lands along the seacoast have seen and are scared.
    The ends of earth take to shaking and yet still they draw near.
⁶ They try to bolster each other up saying,
    “Have courage, brother, have courage!”
⁷ Recognizing their mutual dependence, the artisan encourages the goldsmith;
    the one who hammers the metal emboldens the one who welds,
Saying, “Looks good! Fine job!” and fastens the idols together with nails,
    making it stand firm and stable.

⁸ Eternal One: But you, My servant, Israel,
        Jacob whom I have chosen and descendant of My friend, Abraham,
⁹     I have reached to wherever you are in the farthest corners of earth,
        and the most hidden places therein.
    I have called to you and said, “You are my servant.
        I have chosen you, not thrown you away!”
¹⁰     So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you;
        don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.
    I will strengthen you, help you.
        I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.
¹¹     Look, everyone who hated you and sought to do you wrong
        will be embarrassed and confused.
    Whoever challenged you with hot-headed bluster
        will become as if they never were, and nevermore will be.
¹²     You may go looking for them, but you won’t find them;
        because those who tried to fight with you will become as if they never were.
¹³     After all, it is I, the Eternal One your God,
        who has hold of your right hand,
    Who whispers in your ear, “Don’t be afraid. I will help you.”