Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

³ Do not put your trust in the rulers of this world—kings and princes.
    Do not expect any rescue from mortal men.
⁴ As soon as their breath leaves them, they return to the earth;
    on that day, all of them perish—their dreams, their plans, and their memories.

⁵ Blessed are those whose help comes from the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is centered in the Eternal their God—
⁶ Who created the heavens, the earth,
    the seas, and all that lives within them;
Who stays true and remains faithful forever;
⁷ Who works justice for those who are pressed down by the world,
    providing food for those who are hungry.

The Eternal frees those who are imprisoned;
⁸ He makes the blind see.
    He lifts up those whose backs are bent in labor;
    He cherishes those who do what is right.
⁹ The Eternal looks after those who journey in a land not their own;
    He takes care of the orphan and the widow,
    but He frustrates the wicked along their way.

¹⁰ The Eternal will reign today, tomorrow, and forever.
    People of Zion, your God will rule forever over all generations.
Praise the Eternal!

²⁷     See now, the name of the Eternal is echoing from far away.
        God is coming with a fury inescapable to set things right again.
    God is coming like fire and smoke;
        His lips, indignation—His tongue, consuming fire.
²⁸     God’s breath barrels down like hurricane rain,
        rising right up to the neck to rattle the nations
    And to subdue all peoples as a horse handler bridles a crazy mare for slaughter.
²⁹     In your newfound freedom, you will sing as if it’s a festival night.
        With lighthearted joy, you will dance your way toward Jerusalem,
    To the Eternal’s mountain, the Rock Israel can trust.
³⁰     Then the Eternal One will make unmistakable His absolute authority
        when all hear His voice, and God’s power will be obvious
    For all to see—God’s anger against the nations—that consuming fire
        like a cloudburst, thunderstorm, and hailstorm all at once.
³¹     And Assyria
        will cover its ears, terrified at the sound of God’s voice
    When He comes to strike them with His punishing rod.
³²     And every wave of the Eternal’s attacks against Assyria
        will be accompanied by a song with tambourines and harps.
    In battle after battle, He lifts his arm and fights against them.
³³     After all, long ago, God prepared the place of vindication,
        a funeral pyre for Assyria’s king laid deep and high,
    A large stack of wood just waiting for God’s breath like brimstone to ignite it.