Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 89[a]
A well-written song[b] by Ethan the Ezrahite.
89 I will sing continually[c] about the Lord’s faithful deeds;
to future generations I will proclaim your faithfulness.[d]
2 For I say, “Loyal love is permanently established;[e]
in the skies you set up your faithfulness.”[f]
3 The Lord said,[g]
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have made a promise on oath to David, my servant:
4 ‘I will give you an eternal dynasty[h]
and establish your throne throughout future generations.’”[i] (Selah)
5 O Lord, the heavens[j] praise your amazing deeds,
as well as your faithfulness in the angelic assembly.[k]
6 For who in the skies can compare to the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings,[l]
7 a God who is honored[m] in the great angelic assembly,[n]
and more awesome than[o] all who surround him?
8 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies![p]
Who is strong like you, O Lord?
Your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule over the proud sea.[q]
When its waves surge,[r] you calm them.
10 You crushed the Proud One[s] and killed it;[t]
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens belong to you, as does the earth.
You made the world and all it contains.[u]
12 You created the north and the south.
Tabor and Hermon[v] rejoice in your name.
13 Your arm is powerful,
your hand strong,
your right hand[w] victorious.[x]
14 Equity and justice are the foundation of your throne.[y]
Loyal love and faithfulness characterize your rule.[z]
15 How blessed are the people who worship you![aa]
O Lord, they experience your favor.[ab]
16 They rejoice in your name all day long,
and are vindicated[ac] by your justice.
17 For you give them splendor and strength.[ad]
By your favor we are victorious.[ae]
18 For our shield[af] belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.[ag]
The Lord Reaffirms His Covenant with David, Israel, and Levi
14 “I, the Lord, affirm:[a] ‘The time will certainly come when I will fulfill my gracious promise concerning the nations of Israel and Judah.[b] 15 In those days and at that time I will raise up for them a righteous descendant[c] of David.
“‘He will do what is just and right in the land. 16 Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety[d] and Jerusalem will live in security. At that time Jerusalem will be called “The Lord has provided us with justice.”[e] 17 For I, the Lord, promise: “David will never lack a successor to occupy[f] the throne over the nation of Israel.[g] 18 Nor will the Levitical priests ever lack someone to stand before me and continually offer up burnt offerings, sacrifice cereal offerings, and offer the other sacrifices.”’”[h]
19 The Lord’s message came to Jeremiah another time:[i] 20 “I, the Lord, make the following promise:[j] ‘I have made a covenant with the day[k] and with the night that they will always come at their proper times. Only if you people[l] could break that covenant 21 could my covenant with my servant David and my covenant with the Levites ever be broken. So David will by all means always have a descendant to occupy his throne as king and the Levites will by all means always have priests who will minister before me.[m] 22 I will make the children who follow one another in the line of my servant David very numerous. I will also make the Levites who minister before me very numerous. I will make them all as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sands that are on the seashore.’”[n]
23 The Lord’s message came to Jeremiah another time:[o] 24 “You have surely noticed what these people are saying, haven’t you? They are saying,[p] ‘The Lord has rejected the two families of Israel and Judah[q] that he chose.’ So they have little regard that my people will ever again be a nation.[r] 25 But I, the Lord, make the following promise:[s] ‘I have made a covenant governing the coming of day and night. I have established the fixed laws governing heaven and earth. 26 Just as surely as I have done this, so surely will I never reject the descendants of Jacob. Nor will I ever refuse to choose one of my servant David’s descendants to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed,[t] I will restore them[u] and show mercy to them.’”
41 Then[a] Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”[b] 42 The Lord replied,[c] “Who then is the faithful and wise manager,[d] whom the master puts in charge of his household servants,[e] to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave[f] whom his master finds at work[g] when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth,[h] the master[i] will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if[j] that[k] slave should say to himself,[l] ‘My master is delayed[m] in returning,’ and he begins to beat[n] the other[o] slaves, both men and women,[p] and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 46 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two,[q] and assign him a place with the unfaithful.[r] 47 That[s] servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked[t] will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know his master’s will[u] and did things worthy of punishment[v] will receive a light beating.[w] From everyone who has been given much, much will be required,[x] and from the one who has been entrusted with much,[y] even more will be asked.[z]
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