Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace unto His people and to His saints; but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good, and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps.
3 Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
3 Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest when he hath no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth where no trap is for him? Shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, unless He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.
8 The lion hath roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken! Who can but prophesy?
9 Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod and in the palaces in theland of Egypt, and say, “Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
10 For they know not to do right,” saith the Lord, “who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.”
11 Therefore thus saith the Lord God: “An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be despoiled.”
12 Thus saith the Lord: “As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be taken out, that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed and in Damascus on a couch.
2 Continue in prayer and watch therein with thanksgiving,
3 besides praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds,
4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outsiders, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
7 Tychicus, who is a beloved brother and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, shall declare unto you all my circumstances.
8 I have sent him unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your state and comfort your hearts,
9 and with him Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and also Mark, Barnabas’ sister’s son (concerning whom ye received instructions that if he come unto you, receive him),
11 and Jesus who is called Justus, who are of the Circumcision. These only are my fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, who have been a comfort unto me.
12 Epaphras, a servant of Christ who is one of you, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him record that he hath a great zeal for you and for those who are in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.
15 Salute the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church which is in his house.
16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.”
18 The salutation by the hand of me, Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.