Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

85 Lord, you have poured out amazing blessings on this land! You have restored the fortunes of Israel,^{[a] 2} and forgiven the sins of your people—yes, covered over each one,

⁸ I am listening carefully to all the Lord is saying—for he speaks peace to his people, his saints, if they will only stop their sinning. ⁹ Surely his salvation is near to those who reverence him; our land will be filled with his glory.

¹⁰ Mercy and truth have met together. Grim justice^[a] and peace have kissed! ¹¹ Truth rises from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.

¹² Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings on the land, and it yields its bountiful crops. ¹³ Justice goes before him to make a pathway for his steps.^[b]

⁴ The Lord said to me, ⁵ “I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”

⁶ “O Lord God,” I said, “I can’t do that! I’m far too young! I’m only a youth!”

⁷ “Don’t say that,” he replied, “for you will go wherever I send you and speak whatever I tell you to. ⁸ And don’t be afraid of the people, for I, the Lord, will be with you and see you through.”

⁹ Then he touched my mouth and said, “See, I have put my words in your mouth! ¹⁰ Today your work begins, to warn the nations and the kingdoms of the world. In accord with my words spoken through your mouth I will tear down some and destroy them, and plant others, nurture them, and make them strong and great.”

¹⁹ Meanwhile, the believers who fled from Jerusalem during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, scattering the Good News, but only to Jews. ²⁰ However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene also gave their message about the Lord Jesus to some Greeks. ²¹ And the Lord honored this effort so that large numbers of these Gentiles became believers.

²² When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to help the new converts. ²³ When he arrived and saw the wonderful things God was doing, he was filled with excitement and joy, and encouraged the believers to stay close to the Lord, whatever the cost. ²⁴ Barnabas was a kindly person, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. As a result, large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

²⁵ Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to hunt for Paul. ²⁶ When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch; and both of them stayed there for a full year teaching the many new converts. (It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called “Christians.”)