Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
8 I will listen to what God the Lord will say. For He will speak peace to His people, to those who are right with Him. But do not let them turn again to foolish things. 9 For sure His saving power is near those who fear Him, so His shining-greatness may live in the land. 10 Loving-kindness and truth have met together. Peace and what is right and good have kissed each other. 11 Truth comes up from the earth. And what is right and good looks down from heaven. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good. And our land will give its fruit. 13 What is right and good will go before Him and make a way for His steps.
Word from the Man of God
3 O people of Israel, hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you and against the whole family which He brought up from the land of Egypt. 2 “You are the only ones I have chosen among all the families of the earth. So I must punish you for all your sins.” 3 Do two men walk together unless they have made an agreement? 4 Does a lion make noise among the trees when he has no food? Does a young lion cry out from his home if he has not caught anything? 5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no food to tempt it? Does a trap jump up from the ground when it does not catch anything? 6 Are not the people afraid when a horn is blown in a city? When trouble comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it? 7 For sure the Lord does not do anything without making His plan known to His servants who speak for Him. 8 The lion has made a noise! Who will not be afraid? The Lord God has spoken! Who can keep from speaking His Word?
Israel Will Be Punished for Its Sin
9 Say to the people who live in the strong cities of Ashdod and Egypt, “Gather together on the mountains of Samaria. See all the trouble within her and how her people suffer. 10 They do not know how to do what is right,” says the Lord. “They store up in their strong cities what they have fought for and robbed.”
11 So the Lord God says, “Those who hate you will gather around the land. They will pull down your strong-places and rob your strong cities.” 12 The Lord says, “As the shepherd saves from the lion’s mouth just two legs or a piece of an ear, so will the people of Israel living in Samaria be saved, with the corner of a bed and a part of a cover.
Some Things to Do
2 You must keep praying. Keep watching! Be thankful always. 3 As you pray, be sure to pray for us also. Pray that God will open the door for us to preach the Word. We want to tell the secret of Christ. And this is the reason I am in prison. 4 Pray that I will be able to preach so everyone can understand. This is the way I should speak. 5 Be wise in the way you live around those who are not Christians. Make good use of your time. 6 Speak with them in such a way they will want to listen to you. Do not let your talk sound foolish. Know how to give the right answer to anyone.
Paul’s Helpers Say Hello
7 Tychicus will tell you how I am getting along. He is a much-loved brother and faithful helper. Both of us are owned by the Lord. 8 This is the reason I have sent him to you. It is so you can know about us. He can also bring joy to your hearts. 9 Onesimus is going with Tychicus. He is one of your own people. He is faithful and we love him very much. They will tell you about everything here.
10 One of the men here in prison with me is Aristarchus. He says hello you. Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, says hello. (You have heard before that if he comes to you, you are to receive him and make him happy.) 11 Jesus Justus says hello also. These are the only Jewish workers helping me teach about the holy nation of God. What a help they have been to me!
12 Epaphras says hello. He is one of your people and a servant of Jesus Christ. As he prays for you, he asks God to help you to be strong and to make you perfect. He prays that you will know what God wants you to do in all things. 13 I can tell you for sure that he works hard for you and for the Christians in the cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the dear doctor, and Demas say hello. 15 Greet all the Christians in Laodicea. Greet Nympha and the Christians who gather for church in her house.
16 When this letter has been read to you, have it read in the church in Laodicea also. Be sure you read the letter that is coming from Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus to be sure to finish the work the Lord called him to do.
18 I, Paul, am writing this last part with my own hand. Do not forget that I am in prison. May you have God’s loving-favor.
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