Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 130
Waiting for Divine Redemption
A Song of Ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.(A)
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!(B)
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?(C)
4 But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.(D)
9 “Whom will he teach knowledge,
and to whom will he explain the message?
Those who are weaned from milk,
those taken from the breast?(A)
10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little.”[a](B)
11 Truly, with stammering lip
and with another tongue
he will speak to this people,(C)
12 to whom he has said,
“This is rest;
give rest to the weary,
and this is repose,”
yet they would not hear.(D)
13 Therefore the word of the Lord will be to them,
“Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little,”[b]
in order that they may go and fall backward
and be broken and snared and taken.(E)
7 The end of all things is near;[a] therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers.(A) 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.(B) 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.(C) 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.(D)
Suffering as a Christian
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.(E) 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory,[b] which is the Spirit of God,[c] is resting on you.[d](F) 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker.[e](G) 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.[f] 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?(H) 18 And
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust their lives to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.