Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
The Lord Watches Over All His Works
104 Praise the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great. You are dressed with great honor and wonderful power. 2 He covers Himself with light as with a coat. He spreads out the heavens like a tent. 3 He makes His home on the waters. He makes the clouds His wagon. He rides on the wings of the wind. 4 He makes the winds carry His news. He makes His helpers a burning fire.
5 He set the earth in its place so that it will stay that way forever. 6 You covered it with the sea as with a coat. The waters stood above the mountains. 7 The waters left at Your strong words. They went away in a hurry at the sound of Your thunder. 8 The mountains went up and the valleys went down to the place that You made for them. 9 You set a place that they may not pass over. The waters will never cover the earth again.
10 He sends rivers into the valleys. They flow between the mountains. 11 They give water to all the animals of the field. The wild donkeys drink until they are no longer thirsty. 12 The birds of the sky nest beside them. They sing among the branches. 13 He waters the mountains from His home above. The earth is filled with the fruit of His works.
14 He makes the grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to use. So He may bring food from the earth, 15 wine that makes man’s heart glad, oil to make his face shine, and food to make his heart strong. 16 The tall cedar trees that the Lord planted in Lebanon drink their fill. 17 The birds make their nests there. The stork has its nest in the green trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a safe place for the badgers. 19 He made the moon to mark the time of year. And the sun knows when to go down. 20 You make darkness and it becomes night. Then all the wild animals among the trees come out. 21 The young lions make a loud noise as they go after meat. And they get their food from God. 22 They go to their homes and lie down when the sun rises. 23 Then man goes out to his work and works until evening.
24 O Lord, how many are Your works! You made them all in wisdom. The earth is full of what You have made. 25 There is the wide sea full of both large and small animals. There are too many for us to number. 26 The ships sail there. And the very large sea animal You have made plays in it.
27 They all wait for You to give them their food at the right time. 28 You give it to them and they gather it up. You open Your hand and they are filled with good things. 29 They are troubled and afraid when You hide Your face. And when You take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. 30 They are made when You send Your Spirit. And You make the land of the earth new again.
31 May the shining-greatness of the Lord last forever. May the Lord be glad in His works. 32 He looks at the earth and it shakes with fear. He touches the mountains and they smoke. 33 I will sing to the Lord all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 34 May the words of my heart be pleasing to Him. As for me, I will be glad in the Lord. 35 Let sinners be destroyed from the earth. And let the sinful be no more. Honor the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!
7 “Before she suffered, she gave birth. Before her pain came, a son was born to her. 8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be born all at once? As soon as Zion’s pains came, she gave birth to her sons. 9 Will I bring a child to birth, and not let him be born?” says the Lord. “Will I, Who gives birth, stop it?” says your God. 10 Be glad with Jerusalem and have joy in her, all you who love her. Be filled with joy for her, all you who have sorrow for her. 11 Then you will nurse and be filled with her comforting breasts. You will drink and be happy with her greatness.” 12 For the Lord says, “See, I will give peace to her like a river, and the greatness of the nations like a river flowing over. And you will be nursed. You will be carried at the side and given loving-kindness on the knees. 13 I will comfort you as one is comforted by his mother. And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
Jesus Teaches about the Cares of This Life
22 Jesus said to His followers, “Because of this, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you are going to eat. Do not worry about your body, what you are going to wear. 23 Life is worth more than food. The body is worth more than clothes. 24 Look at the birds. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They have no grain buildings for keeping grain. Yet God feeds them. Are you not worth more than the birds?
25 “Which of you can make yourself a little taller by worrying? 26 If you cannot do that which is so little, why do you worry about other things? 27 Think how the flowers grow. They do not work or make cloth. Yet, I tell you, that King Solomon in all his greatness was not dressed as well as one of these flowers. 28 God puts these clothes on the grass of the field. The grass is in the field today and put into the fire tomorrow. How much more would He want to give you clothing? You have so little faith! 29 Do not give so much thought to what you will eat or drink. Do not be worried about it. 30 For all the nations of the world go after these things. Your Father knows you need these things. 31 Instead, go after the holy nation of God. Then all these other things will be given to you.
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