Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

2 This was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And I saw, and I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one that spoke. And he said to me: Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak to thee.

² And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me, and he set me upon my feet: and I heard him speaking to me,

³ And saying: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people, that hath revolted from me, they, and their fathers, have transgressed my covenant even unto this day.

⁴ And they to whom I send thee are children of a hard face, and of an obstinate heart: and thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God:

⁵ If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear, for they are a provoking house: and they shall know that there hath been a prophet in the midst of them.

123 If it had not been that the Lord was with us, let Israel now say:

² If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up against us,

³ Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled against us,

⁴ Perhaps the waters had swallowed us up.

⁵ Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had passed through a water insupportable.

⁶ Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth.

⁷ Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered.

⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

² I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven.

³ And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth),

⁴ That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not granted to man to utter.

⁵ For such an one I will glory; but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities.

⁶ For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.

⁷ And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.

⁸ For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me.

⁹ And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

¹⁰ For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.

6 And going out from thence, he went into his own country; and his disciples followed him.

² And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were in admiration at his doctrine, saying: How came this man by all these things? and what wisdom is this that is given to him, and such mighty works as are wrought by his hands?

³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? are not also his sisters here with us? And they were scandalized in regard of him.

⁴ And Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and in his own house, and among his own kindred.

⁵ And he could not do any miracles there, only that he cured a few that were sick, laying his hands upon them.

⁶ And he wondered because of their unbelief, and he went through the villages round about teaching.

⁷ And he called the twelve; and began to send them two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

⁸ And he commanded them that they should take nothing for the way, but a staff only: no scrip, no bread, nor money in their purse,

⁹ But to be shod with sandals, and that they should not put on two coats.

¹⁰ And he said to them: Wheresoever you shall enter into an house, there abide till you depart from that place.

¹¹ And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you; going forth from thence, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony to them.

¹² And going forth they preached that men should do penance:

¹³ And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.