Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
To the Director: Accompanied by female voices.[a] A Davidic Psalm.
A Cry for God’s Justice
9 [b]I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,
I will declare all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praises to your name, Most High!
3 When my enemies turn back,
they will stumble and perish before you.
4 For you have brought about justice for me and my cause;
you sit on the throne judging righteously.
5 You rebuked the nations,
you destroyed the wicked,
you wiped out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy has perished,
reduced to ruins forever.
You uprooted their cities,
the very memory of them vanished.
7 But the Lord sits on his throne[c] forever;
his throne is established for judgment.
8 He will judge the world righteously
and make just decisions for the people.
9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of distress.
10 Those who know your name will trust you,
for you have not forsaken those who seek you, Lord.
11 Sing praises to the Lord who dwells in Zion;
declare his mighty deeds among the peoples.
12 As an avenger of blood, he remembers them;
he has not forgotten the cry of the afflicted.
The Vision of the Measuring Line
2 [a]Then I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked, “Where are you going?”
He responded, “To measure Jerusalem in order to determine its width and length.”
3 Look! That angel who was talking to me left, and another angel came forward to meet him. 4 That other angel told him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be an inhabited city without walls due to the number of people and livestock within it. 5 I myself will be an encircling rampart of fire,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be the glory in her midst.’
The Vision of the Flying Scroll
5 Then I looked up and saw a flying scroll! 2 And the angel[a] asked me, “What do you see?”
I answered him, “I’m looking at a flying scroll. It’s 20 cubits[b] long and ten cubits[c] wide.”
3 He responded to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the surface of the whole earth, because, according to this side of the scroll,[d] all thieves will be ejected, and according to the other side of the scroll,[e] all liars will be ejected.”
4 “I am bringing this about,” declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. “The curse[f] will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who lies in my name. The curse[g] will remain in his house until that house[h] has been completely destroyed, right down to its timber and stones.”
Paul Gives Final Instructions to the Church
12 Brothers, we ask you to show your appreciation for those who work among you, set an example for you in the Lord, and instruct[a] you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard, loving them because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 We urge you, brothers, to admonish[b] those who are idle,[c] cheer up those who are discouraged, and help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that no one pays back evil for evil. Instead, always pursue what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Always be joyful. 17 Continually be prayerful. 18 In everything be thankful, because this is God’s will for you in the Messiah[d] Jesus.
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