Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
6 Your arrows are sharp;
nations will lie beneath your feet;
the enemies of the king will lose heart.[a]
7 Your throne, O God,[b] will last forever and ever;
the scepter of your kingdom will be a scepter of justice.
8 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has established you above your fellow kings
by anointing you with the oil of gladness.
9 [c]All your robes are fragrant
with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces of ivory
stringed instruments bring joy to your heart.
10 Daughters of kings[d] are among your women in waiting;
at your right hand is your queen
adorned in gold of Ophir.
11 My daughter, listen carefully to my words
and follow them diligently.
Forget your people and your father’s house;[e]
12 then the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord,
13 bow down before him.
The Daughter of Tyre[f] will bring you gifts,
people of wealth will seek your favor.
14 Within the palace the king’s daughter is adorned
in robes threaded with gold.
15 In embroidered garments she is led to the king,
followed by her virgin companions,
who are also led to you.,[g]
16 They are brought in with joy and gladness
as they enter the palace of the king.
17 Your[h] sons will take the place of your ancestors;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
The Triumph of Love[a]
Chapter 3
1 The Lord said to me:
“Go forth and offer your love to a woman
who has a lover and is an adulteress,
just as I, the Lord, love the people of Israel
even though they turn to other gods
and love raisin cakes.”[b]
2 Therefore, I purchased her for fifteen shekels of silver, a homer of barley, and a measure of wine, 3 and I said to her:
“You must remain in my house for a long time,
and you shall not continue to play the harlot.
You shall not have relations with anyone else,
nor even with me.”
4 For the Israelites shall spend a long time
without a king or leader,
without sacrifice or sacred pillar,
without ephod or household idols.
5 Afterward the Israelites shall return
and seek the Lord, their God,
and David, their king.[c]
They will come trembling to the Lord
to beg for his bounty in the final days.
23 The Delay Was Intended Merely To Spare Them.[a] I call upon God as a witness that it was only to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth. 24 We do not wish to lord it over your faith, but to work together with you for your joy, because you are standing firm in your faith.
Chapter 2
1 Therefore, I made up my mind not to have you endure another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you pain, then who would be there to cheer me up aside from you whom I offended? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not suffer distress from those who should have made me rejoice. I know all of you well enough to be certain that we both share the same joy. 4 It was with great distress and anguish of heart and many tears that I wrote to you, not to grieve you but to let you know how abundant is the love I have for you.
Forgiveness for the Offender. 5 If anyone has caused distress, he has done so not only to me but to some extent—not to exaggerate—to all of you. 6 The punishment that was imposed by the majority was appropriate. 7 But now you should forgive and encourage him so that he may not be overwhelmed by the burden of his distress. 8 Therefore, I urge you to reassure him of your love.
9 I wrote to you to test your obedience in all matters. 10 Anyone whom you forgive I forgive as well. Whatever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I have done for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we may avoid being outwitted by Satan, for we are not unaware of his schemes.
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