Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹² But you, O Lord, are ^(A)enthroned for ever;
    you ^(B)are remembered throughout all generations.
¹³ You will ^(C)arise and have ^(D)pity on Zion;
    it is the time to favour her;
    ^(E)the appointed time has come.
¹⁴ For your servants hold her ^(F)stones dear
    and have pity on her dust.
¹⁵ Nations will ^(G)fear the name of the Lord,
    and all ^(H)the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord ^(I)builds up Zion;
    he ^(J)appears in his glory;
¹⁷ he ^(K)regards the prayer of the destitute
    and does not despise their prayer.
¹⁸ Let this be ^(L)recorded for ^(M)a generation to come,
    so that ^(N)a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
¹⁹ that he ^(O)looked down from his holy height;
    from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
²⁰ to hear ^(P)the groans of the prisoners,
    to set free ^(Q)those who were doomed to die,
²¹ that they may ^(R)declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
    and in Jerusalem his praise,
²² when ^(S)peoples gather together,
    and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
²³ He has broken my strength in midcourse;
    he ^(T)has shortened my days.
²⁴ “O my God,” ^(U)I say, “take me not away
    in the midst of my days—
^(V)you whose years endure
    throughout all generations!”
^25 (W)Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
    and ^(X)the heavens are the work of your hands.
^26 (Y)They will perish, but ^(Z)you will remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
²⁷     but ^(AA)you are the same, and your years have no end.
^28 (AB)The children of your servants ^(AC)shall dwell secure;
    ^(AD)their offspring shall be established before you.

² “Oh that my vexation were weighed,
    and all my calamity laid in the balances!
³ For then it would be heavier than ^(A)the sand of the sea;
    therefore my words have been rash.
⁴ For ^(B)the arrows of the Almighty are in me;
    my spirit drinks their poison;
    the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
⁵ Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass,
    or the ox low over his fodder?
⁶ Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,
    or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?^[a]
7 My appetite refuses to touch them;
    they are as food that is loathsome to me.^[b]
8 “Oh that I might have my request,
    and that God would fulfil my hope,
⁹ that it would ^(C)please God to crush me,
    that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
¹⁰ This would be my comfort;
    I would even exult^[c] in pain ^(D)unsparing,
    for I have not denied the words of ^(E)the Holy One.
¹¹ What is my strength, that I should wait?
    And what is my end, that I should be patient?
¹² Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
¹³ Have I any help in me,
    when resource is driven from me?