Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹⁴ Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the good promise I have made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

¹⁵ In those days and at that time will I cause a righteous Branch [the Messiah] to grow up to David; and He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.^(A)

¹⁶ In those days Judah shall be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely. And this is the name by which it will be called, The Lord is Our Righteousness (our Rightness, our Justice).

Psalm 25

[A Psalm] of David.

¹ Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life.

² O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] be disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me.

³ Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed; let them be ashamed who forsake the right or deal treacherously without cause.

⁴ Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.

⁵ Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.

⁶ Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercy and loving-kindness; for they have been ever from of old.

⁷ Remember not the sins (the lapses and frailties) of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your mercy and steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

⁸ Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He instruct sinners in [His] way.

⁹ He leads the humble in what is right, and the humble He teaches His way.

¹⁰ All the paths of the Lord are mercy and steadfast love, even truth and faithfulness are they for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

⁹ For what [adequate] thanksgiving can we render to God for you for all the gladness and delight which we enjoy for your sakes before our God?

¹⁰ [And we] continue to pray especially and with most intense earnestness night and day that we may see you face to face and mend and make good whatever may be imperfect and lacking in your faith.

¹¹ Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) guide our steps to you.

¹² And may the Lord make you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you,

¹³ So that He may strengthen and confirm and establish your hearts faultlessly pure and unblamable in holiness in the sight of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) with all His saints (the ^[a]holy and glorified people of God)! Amen, (so be it)!

²⁵ And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth [there will be] distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity [^[a]without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn] at the roaring (^[b]the echo) of the tossing of the sea,^(A)

²⁶ Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and ^[c]caused to totter.

²⁷ And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great (transcendent and overwhelming) power and [all His kingly] glory (majesty and splendor).^(B)

²⁸ Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near.

²⁹ And He told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees;

³⁰ When they put forth their buds and come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and perceive and know that summer is already near.

³¹ Even so, when you see these things taking place, understand and know that the kingdom of God is at hand.

³² Truly I tell you, this generation (^[d]those living at that definite period of time) will not perish and pass away until all has taken place.

³³ The ^[e]sky and the earth (^[f]the universe, the world) will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

³⁴ But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the ^[g]giddiness and headache and ^[h]nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the ^[i]business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose;

³⁵ For it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth.

³⁶ Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.