Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 56[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.
1 Be merciful to me,(A) my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(B)
all day long they press their attack.(C)
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;(D)
in their pride many are attacking me.(E)
3 When I am afraid,(F) I put my trust in you.(G)
4 In God, whose word I praise—(H)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(I)
What can mere mortals do to me?(J)
5 All day long they twist my words;(K)
all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire,(L) they lurk,
they watch my steps,(M)
hoping to take my life.(N)
7 Because of their wickedness do not[c] let them escape;(O)
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(P)
8 Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll[d](Q)—
are they not in your record?(R)
9 Then my enemies will turn back(S)
when I call for help.(T)
By this I will know that God is for me.(U)
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?
11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”(A)
“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching[a](B) to see that my word is fulfilled.”
13 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”(C)
“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”
14 The Lord said to me, “From the north(D) disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.
“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
and against all the towns of Judah.(E)
16 I will pronounce my judgments(F) on my people
because of their wickedness(G) in forsaking me,(H)
in burning incense to other gods(I)
and in worshiping(J) what their hands have made.(K)
17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say(L) to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified(M) by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you(N) a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome(O) you, for I am with you(P) and will rescue(Q) you,” declares the Lord.
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it(A) 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.(B) 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.(C) They will not leave one stone on another,(D) because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming(E) to you.”
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