Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Book Two

Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?

To the choirmaster. A Maskil^[a] of ^(A)the Sons of Korah.

Water Flowing from the Temple

47 Then he brought me back to ^(A)the door of the temple, and behold, ^(B)water was issuing from below ^(C)the threshold of the temple towards the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of ^(D)the altar. ² Then he brought me out by way of ^(E)the north gate and led me round on the outside to ^(F)the outer gate that faces towards the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.

³ Going on eastwards with a measuring line in his hand, ^(G)the man measured a thousand cubits,^[a] and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. ⁴ Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. ⁵ Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. ⁶ And he said to me, ^(H)“Son of man, ^(I)have you seen this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. ⁷ As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river ^(J)very many trees on one side and on the other. ⁸ And he said to me, “This water flows towards the eastern region and goes down into ^(K)the Arabah, and enters the sea;^[b] when the water flows into ^(L)the sea, the water will become fresh.^{[c] 9} And wherever the river goes,^[d] every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea^[e] may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. ¹⁰ Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From ^(M)Engedi to ^(N)Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of ^(O)the Great Sea.^{[f] 11} But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. ¹² And on the banks, ^(P)on both sides of the river, there will grow ^(Q)all kinds of trees for food. ^(R)Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, ^(S)but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and ^(T)their leaves for healing.”

A Call to Persevere

¹⁷ But you must ^(A)remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ They^[a] said to you, ^(B)“In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” ¹⁹ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, ^(C)devoid of the Spirit. ²⁰ But you, beloved, ^(D)building yourselves up in your most holy faith and ^(E)praying in the Holy Spirit, ^21 (F)keep yourselves in the love of God, ^(G)waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²² And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³ save others by ^(H)snatching them out of ^(I)the fire; to others show mercy ^(J)with fear, hating even ^(K)the garment^[b] stained by the flesh.

Doxology

^24 (L)Now to him who is able ^(M)to keep you from stumbling and ^(N)to present you ^(O)blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to ^(P)the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, ^(Q)be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen.