Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
7 Restore us, God of Armies;
make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.(A)
8 You dug up a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.(B)
9 You cleared a place for it;
it took root and filled the land.(C)
10 The mountains were covered by its shade,
and the mighty cedars[a] with its branches.(D)
11 It sent out sprouts toward the Sea[b]
and shoots toward the River.[c](E)
12 Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its fruit?(F)
13 Boars from the forest tear at it
and creatures of the field feed on it.(G)
14 Return, God of Armies.(H)
Look down from heaven and see;
take care of this vine,
15 the root[d] your right hand planted,
the son[e] that you made strong for yourself.(I)
23 How can you protest, “I am not defiled;
I have not followed the Baals”?(A)
Look at your behavior in the valley;
acknowledge what you have done.(B)
You are a swift young camel
twisting and turning on her way,
24 a wild donkey(C) at home[a] in the wilderness.
She sniffs the wind in the heat of her desire.
Who can control her passion?
All who look for her will not become weary;
they will find her in her mating season.[b]
25 Keep your feet from going bare
and your throat from thirst.
But you say, “It’s hopeless;(D)
I love strangers,(E)
and I will continue to follow them.”
26 Like the shame of a thief when he is caught,
so the house of Israel has been put to shame.(F)
They, their kings, their officials,
their priests, and their prophets(G)
27 say to a tree, “You are my father,”
and to a stone, “You gave birth to me.”
For they have turned their back to me
and not their face,(H)
yet in their time of disaster(I) they beg,
“Rise up and save us!”
28 But where are your gods you made for yourself?
Let them rise up and save you(J)
in your time of disaster if they can,
for your gods are as numerous as your cities, Judah.
Judgment Deserved
29 Why do you bring a case against me?(K)
All of you have rebelled against me.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
30 I have struck down your children in vain;
they would not accept discipline.(L)
Your own sword has devoured your prophets(M)
like a ravaging lion.
31 Evil generation,(N)
pay attention to the word of the Lord!
Have I been a wilderness to Israel
or a land of dense darkness?(O)
Why do my people claim,
“We will go where we want;[c]
we will no longer come to you”?
32 Can a young woman forget her jewelry(P)
or a bride her wedding sash?
Yet my people have forgotten me(Q)
for countless days.
33 How skillfully you pursue love;
you also teach evil women your ways.
34 Moreover, your skirts are stained
with the blood of the innocent poor.(R)
You did not catch them breaking and entering.(S)
But in spite of all these things
35 you claim, “I am innocent.(T)
His anger is sure to turn away from me.”
But I will certainly judge you
because you have said, “I have not sinned.”(U)
36 How unstable you are,(V)
constantly changing your ways!
You will be put to shame by Egypt(W)
just as you were put to shame by Assyria.
37 Moreover, you will be led out from here
with your hands on your head(X)
since the Lord has rejected those you trust;(Y)
you will not succeed even with their help.[d]
14 Do everything without grumbling(A) and arguing,(B) 15 so that you may be blameless(C) and pure,(D) children of God who are faultless(E) in a crooked(F) and perverted(G) generation,(H) among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word(I) of life. Then I can boast(J) in the day of Christ(K) that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out(L) as a drink offering(M) on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.
Knowing Christ
3 In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice(A) in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you.
2 Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil(B) workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision,(C) the ones who worship by the Spirit(D) of God, boast in Christ Jesus,(E) and do not put confidence in the flesh— 4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
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