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Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with thematically matched Old and New Testament readings.
Duration: 1245 days
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
Version
Psalm 38

A psalm of David. A prayer.

38 Lord, don’t correct me when you are angry.
    Don’t punish me when you are burning with anger.
You have wounded me with your arrows.
    You have struck me with your hand.
Because of your anger, my whole body is sick.
    Because of my sin, I’m not healthy.
My guilt has become too much for me.
    It is a load too heavy to carry.

My wounds are ugly. They stink.
    I’ve been foolish. I have sinned.
I am bent over. I’ve been brought very low.
    All day long I go around weeping.
My back is filled with burning pain.
    My whole body is sick.
I am weak and feel as if I’ve been broken in pieces.
    I groan because of the great pain in my heart.

Lord, everything I really want is clearly known to you.
    You always hear me when I sigh.
10 My heart pounds, and my strength is gone.
    My eyes can hardly see.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds.
    My neighbors stay far away from me.
12 Those who are trying to kill me set their traps.
    Those who want to harm me talk about destroying me.
    All day long they make their plans and tell their lies.

13 Like a deaf person, I can’t hear.
    Like someone who can’t speak, I can’t say a word.
14 I’m like someone who doesn’t hear.
    I’m like someone whose mouth can’t make any reply.
15 Lord, I wait for you to help me.
    Lord my God, I know you will answer.
16 I said, “Don’t let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall.
    Don’t let them brag when my feet slip.”

17 I am about to fall.
    My pain never leaves me.
18 I admit that I have done wrong.
    I am troubled by my sin.
19 Though I have done nothing to cause it, many people have become my enemies.
    They hate me without any reason.
20 They pay me back with evil, even though I was good to them.
    They bring charges against me, though I try only to do what is good.

21 Lord, don’t desert me.
    My God, don’t be far away from me.
22 Lord my Savior,
    come quickly to help me.

Lamentations 5

Lord, think about what has happened to us.
    Look at the shame our enemies have brought on us.
The land you gave us has been turned over to outsiders.
    Our homes have been given to strangers.
Our fathers have been killed.
    Our mothers don’t have husbands.
We have to buy the water we drink.
    We have to pay for the wood we use.
Those who chase us are right behind us.
    We’re tired and can’t get any rest.
We put ourselves under the control of Egypt and Assyria
    just to get enough bread.
Our people of long ago sinned.
    And they are now dead.
    We are being punished because of their sins.
Slaves rule over us.
    No one can set us free
    from their power.
We put our lives in danger just to get some bread to eat.
    Robbers in the desert might kill us with their swords.
10 Our skin is as hot as an oven.
    We are so hungry we’re burning up with fever.
11 Our women have been treated badly in Zion.
    Our virgins have been treated badly in the towns of Judah.
12 Our princes have been hung up by their hands.
    No one shows our elders any respect.
13 Our young men are forced to grind grain at the mill.
    Our boys almost fall down
    as they carry heavy loads of wood.
14 Our elders don’t go to the city gate anymore.
    Our young men have stopped playing their music.
15 There isn’t any joy in our hearts.
    Our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 All of our honor is gone.
    How terrible it is for us because we have sinned!
17 So our hearts are weak.
    Our eyes can’t see very clearly.
18 Mount Zion has been deserted.
    Wild dogs are prowling all around on it.

19 Lord, you rule forever.
    Your throne will last for all time to come.
20 Why do you always forget us?
    Why have you deserted us for so long?
21 Lord, please bring us back to you.
    Then we can return.
    Make our lives like new again.
22 Or have you completely turned away from us?
    Are you really that angry with us?

John 5:19-29

19 Jesus answered, “What I’m about to tell you is true. The Son can do nothing by himself. He can do only what he sees his Father doing. What the Father does, the Son also does. 20 This is because the Father loves the Son. The Father shows him everything he does. Yes, and the Father will show the Son even greater works than these. And you will be amazed. 21 The Father raises the dead and gives them life. In the same way, the Son gives life to anyone he wants to. 22 Also, the Father does not judge anyone. He has given the Son the task of judging. 23 Then all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

24 “What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. They will not be judged. They have crossed over from death to life. 25 What I’m about to tell you is true. A time is coming for me to give life. In fact, it has already begun. The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. Those who hear it will live. 26 The Father has life in himself. He has allowed the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And the Father has given him the authority to judge. This is because he is the Son of Man.

28 “Do not be amazed at this. A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice. 29 They will all come out of their graves. People who have done what is good will rise and live again. People who have done what is evil will rise and be found guilty.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

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