Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Prayer for the Lord’s Help.
A Song of Ascents.
Job Says God Will Deal with the Wicked
21 Then Job responded,
17 “How often is (A)the lamp of the wicked put out,
Or does their (B)disaster fall on them?
Does [a]God apportion destruction in His anger?
18 Are they as (C)straw before the wind,
And like (D)chaff which the storm carries away?
19 You say, ‘(E)God saves up [b]a person’s [c]wrongdoing for his sons.’
Let [d]God repay him so that he may know it.
20 Let his (F)own eyes see his destruction,
And let him (G)drink of the wrath of [e]the Almighty.
21 For what does he care about his household [f]after him,
When the number of his months is at an end?
22 Can anyone (H)teach God knowledge,
In that He (I)judges those on high?
23 One (J)dies in his full strength,
Being wholly undisturbed and at ease;
24 His [g]sides are filled with fat,
And the (K)marrow of his bones is wet,
25 While another dies with a bitter soul,
Never even [h]tasting anything good.
26 Together they (L)lie down in the dust,
And (M)maggots cover them.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts,
And the plots you devise against me.
28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of (N)the nobleman,
And where is the (O)tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’
29 Have you not asked travelers,
And do you not examine their [i]evidence?
30 For the (P)wicked person is spared [j]a day of disaster;
They [k]are led away from (Q)a day of fury.
31 Who [l]confronts him with his actions,
And who repays him for what he has done?
32 When he is carried to the grave,
People will keep watch over his tomb.
33 The (R)clods of the valley will [m]gently cover him;
Moreover, (S)all mankind will [n]follow after him,
While countless others go before him.
34 So how dare you give me empty (T)comfort?
For your answers remain nothing but falsehood!”
Walk According to His Commandments
1 (A)The elder to the (B)chosen (C)lady and her children, whom I (D)love in truth; and not only I, but also all who (E)know the truth, 2 (F)because of the truth which remains (G)in us and will be (H)with us forever: 3 (I)Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 (J)I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received a commandment to do from the Father. 5 Now I ask you, lady, (K)not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had (L)from the beginning, that we (M)love one another. 6 And (N)this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, (O)just as you have heard (P)from the beginning, that you are to walk in it.
7 For (Q)many deceivers have (R)gone out into the world, those who (S)do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is (T)the deceiver and the (U)antichrist. 8 (V)Watch yourselves, (W)that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 [a]Anyone who [b]goes too far and (X)does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, (Y)do not receive him into your house, and do not [c]give him a greeting; 11 for the one who [d]gives him a greeting [e](Z)participates in his evil deeds.
12 (AA)Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak [f]face to face, so that [g]your (AB)joy may be made complete.
13 The children of your (AC)chosen sister greet you.
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