Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 103

The Forgiving God

Of David.

⁴⁴ “‘Look, everyone who uses proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” ⁴⁵ You are the daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and children. You are the sister of your sisters,^(A) who despised their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hethite and your father an Amorite.^{(B) 46} Your older sister was Samaria,^(C) who lived with her daughters to the north of you, and your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters to the south of you. ⁴⁷ Didn’t you walk in their ways and do their detestable practices? It was only a short time before all your ways were more corrupt than theirs.^(D)

⁴⁸ “‘As I live—the declaration of the Lord God—your sister Sodom and her daughters have not behaved as you and your daughters have.^{(E) 49} Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had pride, plenty of food,^(F) and comfortable security, but didn’t support^[a] the poor and needy. ⁵⁰ They were haughty and did detestable acts before me, so I removed them when I saw this.^{[b](G) 51} But Samaria did not commit even half your sins. You have multiplied your detestable practices beyond theirs and made your sisters appear righteous by all the detestable acts you have committed. ⁵² You must also bear your disgrace, since you have helped your sisters out.^[c] For they appear more righteous than you because of your sins, which you committed more detestably than they did. So you also, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, since you have made your sisters appear righteous.

Greeting

1 Simeon^[a] Peter,^(A) a servant and an apostle^(B) of Jesus Christ:

To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness^(C) of our God and Savior^(D) Jesus Christ.

² May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God^(E) and of Jesus our Lord.

Growth in the Faith

³ His^[b] divine power^(F) has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge^(G) of him who called^(H) us by^[c] his own glory and goodness. ⁴ By these he has given us very great and precious promises,^(I) so that through them you may share in the divine nature,^(J) escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, ⁶ knowledge with self-control,^(K) self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, ⁷ godliness with brotherly affection,^(L) and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless^(M) or unfruitful^(N) in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election,^(O) because if you do these things you will never stumble. ¹¹ For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom^(P) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.