Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
A Song of Praise
100 Call out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Be glad as you serve the Lord. Come before Him with songs of joy. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is He Who made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His field.
4 Go into His gates giving thanks and into His holy place with praise. Give thanks to Him. Honor His name. 5 For the Lord is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. And He is faithful to all people and to all their children-to-come.
14 Then the Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow will go out like lightning. The Lord God will blow the horn and go in the storm winds of the south. 15 The Lord of All will fight for them, and they will destroy, and walk on the stones that were to be thrown at them. They will drink and make much noise as with wine. They will be filled like a cup used for putting blood on the corners of the altar. 16 The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people. For they are like the stones of a crown, shining in His land. 17 How good and how beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men grow strong. And the young, pure women will grow strong with new wine.
Israel Will Be Brought Home
10 Ask the Lord for rain in the spring time. It is the Lord Who makes the storm clouds. He gives rain to men, and gives vegetables in the field to every one. 2 The false gods say what is not true. Those who use their secret ways tell lies about the false dreams they have seen. Their comfort means nothing. So the people go from place to place like sheep and are troubled because they have no shepherd.
Paul Meets with the Leaders of the Church of Ephesus
17 From Miletus he sent word to Ephesus. He asked the leaders of the church to come to him. 18 When they got there, he said to them, “From the first day that I came to Asia you have seen what my life has been like. 19 I worked for the Lord without pride. Because of the trouble the Jews gave me, I have had many tears. 20 I always told you everything that would be a help to you. I taught you in open meetings and from house to house. 21 I preached to the Jews and to the Greeks. I told them to turn from their sin to God and to put their trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 “As you see, I am on my way to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit makes me go. I do not know what will happen to me there. 23 But in every city I have been, the Holy Spirit tells me that trouble and chains will be waiting for me there. 24 But I am not worried about this. I do not think of my life as worth much, but I do want to finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me to do. My work is to preach the Good News of God’s loving-favor.
25 “All of you have heard me preach the Good News. I am sure that none of you will ever see my face again. 26 I tell you this day that I am clean and free from the blood of all men. 27 I told you all the truth about God. 28 Keep a careful watch over yourselves and over the church. The Holy Spirit has made you its leaders. Feed and care for the church of God. He bought it with His own blood.
29 “Yes, I know that when I am gone, hungry wolves will come in among you. They will try to destroy the church. 30 Also men from your own group will begin to teach things that are not true. They will get men to follow them. 31 I say again, keep watching! Remember that for three years I taught everyone of you night and day, even with tears.
32 “And now, my brothers, I give you over to God and to the word of His love. It is able to make you strong and to give you what you are to have, along with all those who are set apart for God. 33 I have not tried to get anyone’s money or clothes. 34 You all know that these hands worked for what I needed and for what those with me needed. 35 In every way I showed you that by working hard like this we can help those who are weak. We must remember what the Lord Jesus said, ‘We are more happy when we give than when we receive.’ ”
36 As he finished talking, he got down on his knees and prayed with them all. 37 They cried and put their arms around Paul and kissed him. 38 What made them sad most of all was he said that they would never see his face again. Then they went with him to the ship.
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