Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁷ Restore us again, O God of Hosts,
    and cause Your face to shine,
    and we shall be delivered.

⁸ You have brought a vine out of Egypt;
    You have cast out the nations and planted it.
⁹ You cleared the ground for it;
    it took deep root and filled the land.
¹⁰ The mountains were covered with its shadow
    and the mighty cedars with its branches.
¹¹ It sent out its branches to the sea
    and its shoots to the River.

¹² Why have You then broken down its walls,
    so that all those who pass by the way pluck its fruit?
¹³ The boar from the woods ravages it,
    and the insects of the field devour it.
¹⁴ Return again, O God of Hosts;
    look down from heaven, and behold,
have regard for this vine
¹⁵     and the root that Your right hand has planted,
    and the shoots that You made strong for Yourself.

²⁶ As the thief is ashamed when he is found,
    so is the house of Israel ashamed.
They, their kings, their officials,
    and their priests, and their prophets
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.
But in the time of their trouble they will say,
    “Arise and save us.”
²⁸ But where are your gods that you have made for yourself?
    Let them arise, if they can save you
    in the time of your trouble;
for according to the number of your cities
    are your gods, O Judah.

²⁹ Why will you plead with Me?
    You all have transgressed against Me,
    says the Lord.
³⁰ In vain I have smitten your children;
    they received no correction.
Your own sword has devoured your prophets
    like a destroying lion.

Have I been a wilderness to Israel?
    A land of darkness?
Why do My people say, “We are free to roam.
    We will come no more to You”?
³² Can a virgin forget her ornaments,
    or a bride her attire?
Yet My people have forgotten Me
    for days without number.
³³ You prepare your way very well to seek love.
    Therefore you have also taught the wicked women your ways.
³⁴ Also in your skirts is found
    the blood of the souls of the innocent poor.
    I have not found it by breaking in,
but in spite of all these things.
³⁵     Yet you say, “Because I am innocent,
    surely His anger shall turn away from me.”
Now I will plead with you,
    because you say, “I have not sinned.”
³⁶ Why do you go about so much
    to change your way?
You also shall be ashamed of Egypt,
    as you were ashamed of Assyria.
³⁷ Indeed, you shall go forth from him
    with your hands upon your head;
for the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust,
    and you shall not prosper in them.