Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Davidic^[a]

A Prayer for Help and Forgiveness

The Coming Devastation

¹⁷ This message came to me from the Lord: ¹⁸ “Son of Man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with quivering and anxiety. ¹⁹ Then tell the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord says to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to Israel’s land: “They’ll eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in trepidation, because their land will be desolate in its entirety due to all the violence committed by all who live in it. ²⁰ The towns that are inhabited will lie in ruins, because the land will be devastated. Then they’ll learn^[a] that I am the Lord.”’”

The Coming Fulfillment of Visions

²¹ Later, this message came to me from the Lord: ²² “Son of Man, what’s this proverb you have concerning Israel’s land that says, ‘The days pass slowly and every vision ends in nothing.’?^{[b] 23} Therefore you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “I’m about to put an end to use of this proverb in Israel. It will never be used again as a proverb in Israel. Instead, tell them that the days are drawing near when every vision will be fulfilled. ²⁴ There will no longer be worthless visions and flattering divinations in the midst of Israel’s house. ²⁵ Because I am the Lord, I’ll speak and the message that I communicate will be accomplished without delay. While you continue to be a rebellious house, I’ll speak the message and then fulfill it,” declares the Lord God.’”

The Imminent Fulfillment

²⁶ Later, this message came to me from the Lord: ²⁷ “Son of Man, pay attention! The house of Israel keeps on saying, ‘The vision that he’s talking about concerns the distant future. He’s prophesying concerning times that are far in the future!’ ²⁸ Therefore tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “None of my messages will be delayed any longer. Any message that I speak will be fulfilled,” declares the Lord God.’”

Do Not Criticize Each Other

¹¹ Do not criticize each other, brothers. Whoever makes it his habit to criticize his brother or to judge his brother is judging the Law and condemning the Law. But if you condemn the Law, you are not a practicer of the Law but its judge. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge—the one who can save and destroy. So who are you to judge your neighbor?

Do Not Boast about Future Plans

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money.” ¹⁴ You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead you should say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live—and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But you boast about your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.