Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

85 (For the one directing. Of the Bnei Korach. Mizmor.) Hashem, Thou hast been favorable unto Thy land; Thou hast brought back the captivity of Ya’akov.

^2 (3) Thou hast forgiven the avon (iniquity) of Amecha (Thy people); Thou hast covered all their chattat (sin). Selah.

^8 (9) I will hear what HaEl Hashem will say; for He will speak shalom unto His people, and to His Chasidim; but let them not turn again to folly.

^9 (10) Surely His salvation is karov (near) them that fear Him; that kavod may dwell in Artzeinu (our land).

^10 (11) Chesed and emes will meet together; tzedek and shalom will kiss each other.

^11 (12) Emes shall titzmach (sprout forth [T.N. Tzemach—Branch, Sprout—is the code name for Moshiach and the coming Tzemach’s Namesake in Zecharyah 6:11-12 is Yehoshua, Yeshua—see Ezra 3:8; Zech 3:8; 6:11-12. Go to Jer 23:5 and look at all the references. These are among the most important Scriptures in the Bible because it is here that the saving Name of Moshiach Tzidkeinu is prophetically communicated for salvation; the word Tzemach means “Moshiach” and it is the code word par excellence for Moshiach in the post-Exilic references in the minor prophets; this veiled reference to Moshiach was necessary in the situation of the Return under Persian rule when talk of a coming king was a delicate matter.]) out of ha’aretz; and tzedek shall look down from Shomayim.

^12 (13) Yes, Hashem shall give that which is tov; and Artzeinu (our land) shall yield her yevul (increase, produce).

^13 (14) Tzedek shall go before Him; and shall set us in the Derech of His steps.

6 Come, and let us return unto Hashem; for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath struck, and He will bind us up.

² After two days He will revive us; in the Yom HaShelishi He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.

³ Then shall we know, if we follow on to know Hashem; His going forth is prepared as the shachar (dawn); and He shall come unto us as the geshem (winter rain), as the malkosh (spring rain, i.e., as the latter and former rain, which is the winter and spring rain) unto ha’aretz.

⁴ O Ephrayim, what shall I do unto thee? O Yehudah, what shall I do with thee? For your chesed (faithfulness, loyalty) is as an anan boker (morning cloud), and as the early dew that disappears.

⁵ Therefore have I cut them to pieces with the nevi’im; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; thy mishpatim are as the ohr (light, lightning) that goeth forth.

⁶ For I desired chesed, and not zevach; and the da’as Elohim more than olot (burnt offerings). [Mt 9:13 OJBC]

² Hodinu l’Hashem (We give thanks to Hashem) always for all of you, with zikaron (remembrance) during our davening, without ceasing

³ In our tefillos recalling before our G-d and Avinu your work of emunah, your labor of ahavah (agape), and your perseverance of tikvah in Moshiach Adoneinu Yeshoshua,

⁴ Knowing, Achim b’Moshiach ahuvei Hashem (Brothers in Moshiach beloved of G-d), your bechirah (election).

⁵ For our Besuras HaGeulah did not come to you in mere locution but indeed in gevurah (miraculous power) and in the Ruach HaKodesh and in full bitachon (confidence), just as you have da’as what sort of men we were among you for your sake.

⁶ And you became imitators of us and of Adoneinu, having received the Dvar Hashem (the Word of the L-rd) in much redifah (persecution) with the simcha of the Ruach HaKodesh,

⁷ With the result that you became a mofet (portent), even a role model for all the ma’aminim (believers) in the territory of Macedonia [T.N. a Roman province in northern Greece] and in Achaia [T.N. a Roman province of southern Greece].

⁸ For from you the Dvar Hashem has resounded not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but also in every place to which your emunah in Hashem has gone forth, with the result that we have no need to say anything.

⁹ For they themselves (the ma’aminim b’Moshiach in Macedonia and Achaia) are reporting about us, what sort of initial reception we had with you, and how you made teshuva, turning to Hashem from elilim (idols), from avodah zarah (idol worship), turning to worship the Elohim Chayyim and Elohei Emes (the Living G-d and the True G-d),

¹⁰ And to expect [Moshiach] Ben Elohim from Shomayim whom Hashem made to stand up in the Techiyas HaMoshiach from the Mesim Yehoshua Moshieynu (our Deliverer) from the Charon Af HaBah (the wrath to come).