Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

4 “Watch now,” the Lord Almighty declares, “the day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. The proud and wicked will be burned up like straw; like a tree, they will be consumed—roots and all.

² “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.

98 Sing a new song to the Lord telling about his mighty deeds! For he has won a mighty victory by his power and holiness. ^2-3 He has announced this victory and revealed it to every nation by fulfilling his promise to be kind to Israel. The whole earth has seen God’s salvation of his people. ⁴ That is why the earth breaks out in praise to God and sings for utter joy!

⁵ Sing your praise accompanied by music from the harp. ⁶ Let the cornets and trumpets shout! Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King! ⁷ Let the sea in all its vastness roar with praise! Let the earth and all those living on it shout, “Glory to the Lord.”

^8-9 Let the waves clap their hands in glee and the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the world with perfect justice.

⁶ Now here is a command, dear brothers, given in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ by his authority: Stay away from any Christian who spends his days in laziness and does not follow the ideal of hard work we set up for you. ⁷ For you well know that you ought to follow our example: you never saw us loafing; ⁸ we never accepted food from anyone without buying it; we worked hard day and night for the money we needed to live on, in order that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It wasn’t that we didn’t have the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to show you firsthand how you should work for your living. ¹⁰ Even while we were still there with you, we gave you this rule: “He who does not work shall not eat.”

¹¹ Yet we hear that some of you are living in laziness, refusing to work, and wasting your time in gossiping. ¹² In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we appeal to such people—we command them—to quiet down, get to work, and earn their own living. ¹³ And to the rest of you I say, dear brothers, never be tired of doing right.

⁵ Some of his disciples began talking about the beautiful stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls.

⁶ But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things you are admiring will be knocked down, and not one stone will be left on top of another; all will become one vast heap of rubble.”

⁷ “Master!” they exclaimed. “When? And will there be any warning ahead of time?”

⁸ He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come announcing themselves as the Messiah,^[a] and saying, ‘The time has come.’ But don’t believe them! ⁹ And when you hear of wars and insurrections beginning, don’t panic. True, wars must come, but the end won’t follow immediately— ¹⁰ for nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, ¹¹ and there will be great earthquakes, and famines in many lands, and epidemics, and terrifying things happening in the heavens.

¹² “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of special persecution, and you will be dragged into synagogues and prisons and before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ¹³ But as a result, the Messiah will be widely known and honored.^{[b] 14} Therefore, don’t be concerned about how to answer the charges against you, ¹⁵ for I will give you the right words and such logic that none of your opponents will be able to reply! ¹⁶ Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will betray you and have you arrested; and some of you will be killed. ¹⁷ And everyone will hate you because you are mine and are called by my name. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish! ¹⁹ For if you stand firm, you will win your souls.