Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
All People Exhorted to Praise God.
A Psalm for [a]Thanksgiving.
Prophecy against Babylon
50 The word which the Lord spoke concerning (A)Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet:
2 “(B)Declare and proclaim among the nations.
Proclaim it and (C)lift up a flag,
Do not conceal it. Say,
‘(D)Babylon has been captured,
(E)Bel has been put to shame, [a]Marduk has been [b]shattered;
Her (F)idols have been put to shame, her images have been shattered.’
3 For a nation has come up against her from the (G)north; it will make her land (H)an object of horror, and there will be (I)no inhabitant in it. Whether people or animals, they have wandered off, they have gone!
4 “In those days and at that time,” declares the Lord, “the sons of Israel will come, they and the sons of Judah (J)as well; they will go along (K)weeping as they go, and it will be (L)the Lord their God whom they will seek. 5 They will (M)ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces [c]in its direction; [d]they [e]will come so that they may join themselves to the Lord in an (N)everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.
6 “My people have become (O)lost sheep;
(P)Their shepherds have led them astray.
They have made them turn aside on the (Q)mountains.
They have gone from mountain to hill,
They have forgotten their (R)resting place.
7 All who found them have devoured them;
And their adversaries have said, ‘(S)We are not guilty,
Since they have sinned against the Lord who is the (T)habitation of righteousness,
The Lord, the (U)hope of their fathers.’
17 (A)Obey your leaders and submit to them—for (B)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not [a]groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.
18 (C)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a (D)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. 19 And I urge you all the more to do this, (E)so that I may be restored to you more quickly.
Benediction
20 Now may (F)the God of peace, who (G)brought up from the dead the (H)great Shepherd of the sheep [b]through (I)the blood of the (J)eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, 21 (K)equip you in every good thing to do His will, (L)working in us that (M)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, (N)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 But (O)I urge you, (P)brothers and sisters, [c]listen patiently to [d]this (Q)word of exhortation, for (R)I have written to you briefly. 23 Know that (S)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 24 Greet (T)all of your leaders and all the [e](U)saints. Those from (V)Italy greet you.
25 (W)Grace be with you all.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.