Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

4 For behold, the day comes that shall burn like an oven, and all the proud and arrogant, yes, and all that do wickedly and are lawless, shall be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.^(A)

² But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.

Psalm 98

A Psalm.

¹ O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have wrought salvation for Him.

² The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness has He openly shown in the sight of the nations.^(A)

³ He has [earnestly] remembered His mercy and loving-kindness, His truth and His faithfulness toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God.^(B)

⁴ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!

⁵ Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the voice of melody.

⁶ With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

⁷ Let the sea roar, and all that fills it, the world, and those who dwell in it!

⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands; together let the hills sing for joy

⁹ Before the Lord, for He is coming to judge [and rule] the earth; with righteousness will He judge [and rule] the world, and the peoples with equity.

⁶ Now we charge you, brethren, in the name and on the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) that you withdraw and keep away from every brother (fellow believer) who is slack in the performance of duty and is disorderly, living as a shirker and not walking in accord with the traditions and instructions that you have received from us.

⁷ For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate our example, for we were not disorderly or shirking of duty when we were with you [we were not idle].

⁸ Nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and struggle we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden or impose on any of you [for our support].

⁹ [It was] not because we do not have a right [to such support], but [we wished] to make ourselves an example for you to follow.

¹⁰ For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.

¹¹ Indeed, we hear that some among you are disorderly [that they are passing their lives in idleness, neglectful of duty], being busy with other people’s affairs instead of their own and doing no work.

¹² Now we charge and exhort such persons [as ^[a]ministers in Him exhorting those] in the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) that they work in quietness and earn their own food and other necessities.

¹³ And as for you, brethren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing without weakening].

⁵ And as some were saying of the temple that it was decorated with handsome (shapely and magnificent) stones and consecrated offerings [^[a]laid up to be kept], He said,

⁶ As for all this that you [thoughtfully] look at, the time will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.

⁷ And they asked Him, Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when this is about to occur?

⁸ And He said, Be on your guard and be careful that you are not led astray; for many will come in My name [^[b]appropriating to themselves the name Messiah which belongs to Me], saying, I am He! and, The time is at hand! Do not go out after them.

⁹ And when you hear of wars and insurrections (disturbances, disorder, and confusion), do not become alarmed and panic-stricken and terrified; for all this must take place first, but the end will not [come] immediately.

¹⁰ Then He told them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^(A)

¹¹ There will be mighty and violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences (plagues: ^[c]malignant and contagious or infectious epidemic diseases which are deadly and devastating); and there will be sights of terror and great signs from heaven.

¹² But previous to all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be led away before kings and governors for My name’s sake.

¹³ This will be a time (an opportunity) for you to bear testimony.

¹⁴ Resolve and settle it in your minds not to meditate and prepare beforehand how you are to make your defense and how you will answer.

¹⁵ For I [Myself] will give you a mouth and such utterance and wisdom that all of your foes combined will be unable to stand against or refute.

¹⁶ You will be delivered up and betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and [some] of you they will put to death.

¹⁷ And you will be hated (despised) by everyone because [you bear] My name and for its sake.

¹⁸ But not a hair of your head shall perish.^(B)

¹⁹ By your steadfastness and patient endurance you ^[d]shall win the ^[e]true life of your souls.