Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak,
For He will speak peace
To His people and to His saints;
But let them not turn back to [a]folly.
9 Surely (A)His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
(B)That glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth have met together;
(C)Righteousness and peace have kissed.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth,
And righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 (D)Yes, the Lord will give what is good;
And our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before Him,
And shall make His footsteps our pathway.
Authority of the Prophet’s Message
3 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:
2 “You(A) only have I known of all the families of the earth;
(B)Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey?
Will a young lion [a]cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?
5 Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no [b]trap for it?
Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?
6 If a [c]trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid?
(C)If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?
7 Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless (D)He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken!
(E)Who can but prophesy?
Punishment of Israel’s Sins
9 “Proclaim in the palaces at [d]Ashdod,
And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say:
‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria;
See great tumults in her midst,
And the [e]oppressed within her.
10 For they (F)do not know to do right,’
Says the Lord,
‘Who store up violence and [f]robbery in their palaces.’ ”
11 Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“An adversary shall be all around the land;
He shall sap your strength from you,
And your palaces shall be plundered.”
12 Thus says the Lord:
Christian Graces
2 (A)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it (B)with thanksgiving; 3 (C)meanwhile praying also for us, that God would (D)open to us a door for the word, to speak (E)the [a]mystery of Christ, (F)for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 (G)Walk in (H)wisdom toward those who are outside, (I)redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be (J)with grace, (K)seasoned with salt, (L)that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Final Greetings(M)
7 (N)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 (O)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that [b]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 with (P)Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.
10 (Q)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with (R)Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.
12 (S)Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always (T)laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand (U)perfect and [c]complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great [d]zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 (V)Luke the beloved physician and (W)Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and [e]Nymphas and (X)the church that is in [f]his house.
Closing Exhortations and Blessing
16 Now when (Y)this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to (Z)Archippus, “Take heed to (AA)the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
18 (AB)This salutation by my own hand—Paul. (AC)Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.