Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
15 I said,[a]
“Lord, you know how I suffer.[b]
Take thought of me and care for me.
Pay back for me those who have been persecuting me.
Do not be so patient with them that you allow them to kill me.
Be mindful of how I have put up with their insults for your sake.
16 As your words came to me I drank them in,[c]
and they filled my heart with joy and happiness
because I belong to you,[d] O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.[e]
17 I did not spend my time in the company of other people,
laughing and having a good time.
I stayed to myself because I felt obligated to you[f]
and because I was filled with anger at what they had done.
18 Why must I continually suffer such painful anguish?
Why must I endure the sting of their insults like an incurable wound?
Will you let me down when I need you,
like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?”[g]
19 Because of this, the Lord said,[h]
“You must repent of such words and thoughts!
If you do, I will restore you to the privilege of serving me.[i]
If you say what is worthwhile instead of what is worthless,
I will again allow you to be my spokesman.[j]
They must become as you have been.
You must not become like them.[k]
20 I will make you as strong as a wall to these people,
a fortified wall of bronze.
They will attack you,
but they will not be able to overcome you.
For I will be with you to rescue you and deliver you,”[l]
says the Lord.
21 “I will deliver you from the power of the wicked.
I will free you from the clutches of violent people.”
Psalm 26[a]
By David.
26 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have integrity,[b]
and I trust in the Lord without wavering.
2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me.
Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives.[c]
3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness,[d]
and your loyalty continually motivates me.[e]
4 I do not associate[f] with deceitful men,
or consort[g] with those who are dishonest.[h]
5 I hate the mob[i] of evil men,
and do not associate[j] with the wicked.
6 I maintain a pure lifestyle,[k]
so I can appear before your altar,[l] O Lord,
7 to give you thanks,[m]
and to tell about all your amazing deeds.[n]
8 O Lord, I love the temple where you live,[o]
the place where your splendor is revealed.[p]
Conduct in Love
9 Love must be[a] without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.[b] Do not be conceited.[c] 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.[d] 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.[e] 19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath,[f] for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,”[g] says the Lord. 20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.[h] 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
21 From that time on[a] Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer[b] many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law,[c] and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him:[d] “God forbid,[e] Lord! This must not happen to you!” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”[f] 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower,[g] he must deny[h] himself, take up his cross,[i] and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life[j] will lose it,[k] but whoever loses his life because of me[l] will find it. 26 For what does it benefit a person[m] if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.[n] 28 I tell you the truth,[o] there are some standing here who will not[p] experience[q] death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”[r]
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