Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
8 Show us Your mercy, Adonai,
and grant us Your salvation.
9 Let me hear what God Adonai will say.
For He will speak shalom to His people, and to His kedoshim—
but let them not turn back to folly.
10 Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him,
so that glory may dwell in our land.
11 Lovingkindness and truth meet together.
Righteousness and shalom kiss each other.
12 Truth will spring up from the earth,
and justice will look down from heaven.
13 Yes, Adonai will give what is good,
and our land will yield its produce.
The Prophet Reveals Destruction
3 Hear this word that Adonai has spoken against you, Bnei Yisrael, against the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:
2 “Only you have I known from among
all the families of the earth.
Therefore, I will punish you
for all your iniquities.
3 Can two walk together
unless they meet by appointment?
4 Does a lion roar in the forest
when he has no prey?
Does a young lion growl from his den
unless he has taken prey?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground
if it has no bait?
Will a snare spring up from the ground
without taking anything?
6 If a shofar alarm sounds in a city,
will people not tremble?
If there is calamity in a city,
has not Adonai caused it?
7 For the Lord Adonai, will do nothing,
unless He has revealed His counsel
to His servants the prophets.[a]
8 A lion has roared, who will not fear?
My Lord Adonai has spoken,
who shall not prophesy?
9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod
and the citadels in the land of Egypt:
“Assemble on Samaria’s mountains:
Behold the great tumult within it,
even the oppression within it.”
10 They do not know how to be honest,
—declares Adonai—
those who are saving up violence and destruction in their citadels.
11 Therefore thus says my Lord Adonai:
“An adversary will surround the land!
He will bring down your strength.
Your citadels will be plundered
12 Thus says Adonai:
“Just as the shepherd snatches out of the mouth of the lion
two legs, or a piece of an ear,
so will Bnei-Yisrael dwelling in Samaria
escape with the corner of a bed
or a head of a couch.
Devote Yourselves to Prayer
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, keep praying for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the message, to proclaim the mystery of Messiah—for which I am in prison. 4 Pray that I may make the mystery clear, as I ought to speak. 5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer everyone.
Further Instructions and Greetings
7 Tychicus—a dearly loved brother and trustworthy servant and fellow slave to the Lord—will tell you all the news about me. 8 I sent him to you for this very purpose, so you may know about us and he may encourage your hearts. 9 With him I sent Onesimus—a faithful and dear brother, who is one of your own. They will tell you about everything here.
10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You received instructions about him—if he comes your way, welcome him.) 11 Yeshua who is called Justus also sends his greetings. These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God that are from among the circumcision—they have been a comfort to me.
12 Epaphras, who is one of your own, a slave of Messiah Yeshua, greets you. He is always laboring in prayer on your behalf, so you may stand complete and fully assured about everything that is God’s will. 13 For I testify that he has gone to much trouble for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the dearly loved physician, sends you greetings, and so does Demas.
15 Greet the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the community that meets in her house. 16 When this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in Messiah’s community of Laodicea. In turn, you should read my letter coming from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the service you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
18 This greeting is in my own hand—Paul’s. Remember my chains!
Grace be with you.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.