Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 23
The Good Shepherd
A Davidic psalm.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;(A)
there is nothing I lack.(B)
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;(C)
He leads me beside quiet waters.(D)
3 He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths[a]
for His name’s sake.(E)
4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,[b]
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;(F)
Your rod and Your staff[c]—they comfort me.(G)
An Oracle against Jerusalem
22 An oracle(A) against the Valley of Vision:(B)
What’s the matter with you?
Why have all of you gone up to the rooftops?(C)
2 The noisy city, the jubilant town,(D)
is filled with revelry.
Your dead did not die by the sword;
they were not killed in battle.
3 All your rulers have fled together,
captured without a bow.
All your fugitives were captured together;
they had fled far away.
4 Therefore I said,
“Look away from me! Let me weep bitterly!(E)
Do not try to comfort me
about the destruction of my dear[a] people.”
5 For the Lord God of Hosts
had a day of tumult, trampling, and confusion(F)
in the Valley of Vision—
people shouting[b] and crying to the mountains;
6 Elam took up a quiver
with chariots and horsemen,[c]
and Kir(G) uncovered the shield.
7 Your best valleys were full of chariots,
and horsemen were positioned at the gates.
8 He removed the defenses of Judah.
On that day you looked to the weapons in the House of the Forest.(H)
About the Elders
5 Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness(A) to the sufferings of the Messiah and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed,(B) I exhort the elders among you: 2 Shepherd God’s flock among you,(C) not overseeing[a] out of compulsion but freely, according to God’s will;[b] not for the money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd(D) appears, you will receive the unfading crown(E) of glory.
5 In the same way, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with[c] humility toward one another, because
12 I have written you this brief letter through Silvanus[a](A) (I know him to be a faithful brother) to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Take your stand in it! 13 The church in Babylon,[b](B) also chosen, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.(C) Peace(D) to all of you who are in Christ.[c]
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