◀ All Reading Plans / Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary) / Isaiah 12:2-6 (In your midst is the Holy One of Israel); Amos 6:1-8 (Punishment for self-indulgence); 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (Encouragement to be generous) (New English Translation)

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December 9, 2021

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Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with thematically matched Old and New Testament readings.

Duration: 1245 days

Isaiah 12:2-6

²Look, God is my deliverer!^[a]
I will trust in him^[b] and not fear.
For the Lord gives me strength and protects me;^[c]
he has become my deliverer.”^[d]
³Joyfully you will draw water
from the springs of deliverance.^[e]
⁴At that time^[f] you will say:
“Praise the Lord!
Ask him for help!^[g]
Publicize his mighty acts among the nations.
Make it known that he is unique.^[h]
⁵Sing to the Lord, for he has done magnificent things;
let this be known^[i] throughout the earth.
⁶Cry out and shout for joy, O citizens of Zion,
for the Holy One of Israel^[j] acts mightily^[k] among you!”

Amos 6:1-8

The Party is over for the Rich

6 Woe^[a] to those who live in ease in Zion,^[b]
to those who feel secure on Mount Samaria.
They think of themselves as^[c] the elite class of the best nation.
The family^[d] of Israel looks to them for leadership.^[e]
²They say to the people:^[f]
“Journey over to Calneh and look at it;
then go from there to Hamath-Rabbah;^[g]
then go down to Gath of the Philistines.
Are they superior to our two^[h] kingdoms?
Is their territory larger than yours?”^[i]
³You refuse to believe a day of disaster will come,^[j]
but you establish a reign of violence.^[k]
⁴They lie around on beds decorated with ivory,^[l]
and sprawl out on their couches.
They eat lambs from the flock,
and calves from the middle of the pen.
⁵They sing^[m] to the tune of^[n] stringed instruments;^[o]
like David they invent^[p] musical instruments.
⁶They drink wine from sacrificial bowls,^[q]
and pour the very best oils on themselves.^[r]
Yet they are not concerned over^[s] the ruin^[t] of Joseph.
⁷Therefore they will now be the first to go into exile,^[u]
and the religious banquets^[v] where they sprawl on couches^[w] will end.
⁸The Sovereign Lord confirms this oath by his very own life.^[x]

The Lord God of Heaven’s Armies is speaking:
“I despise Jacob’s arrogance;
I hate their^[y] fortresses.
I will hand over to their enemies^[z] the city of Samaria^[aa] and everything in it.”

Footnotes

Amos 6:1 tn On the Hebrew term הוֹי (hoy; “ah, woe”) as a term of mourning, see the notes in 5:16, 18.
Amos 6:1 sn Zion is a reference to Jerusalem.
Amos 6:1 tn The words “They think of themselves as” are supplied in the translation for clarification. In the Hebrew text the term נְקֻבֵי (n^equvey; “distinguished ones, elite”) is in apposition to the substantival participles in the first line.
Amos 6:1 tn Heb “house.”
Amos 6:1 tn Heb “comes to them.”
Amos 6:2 tn The words “They say to the people” are interpretive and supplied in the translation for clarification. The translation understands v. 2 as the boastful words, which the leaders (described in v. 1) spoke to those who came to them (v. 1b). Some interpret v. 2 differently, understanding the words as directed to the leaders by the prophet. Verse 2b would then be translated: “Are you (i.e., Israel and Judah) better than these kingdoms (i.e., Calneh, etc.)? Is your border larger than their border?” (This reading requires an emendation of the Hebrew text toward the end of the verse.) In this case the verse is a reminder to Judah/Israel that they are not superior to other nations, which have already fallen victim to military conquest. Consequently Judah/Israel should not expect to escape the same fate. Following this line of interpretation, some take v. 2 as a later addition since the Assyrians under Tiglath-Pileser III conquered Calneh, Hamath, and Gath after the time of Amos’ ministry. However, this conclusion is not necessary since the kingdoms mentioned here had suffered military setbacks prior to Amos’ time as well. See S. M. Paul, Amos (Hermeneia), 201-4.
Amos 6:2 tn Or “Great Hamath” (cf. NIV); or “Hamath the great” (cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV); the word “rabbah” means “great” in Hebrew.
Amos 6:2 tn Heb “to these,” referring to Judah and Israel (see v. 1a).
Amos 6:2 tn Both rhetorical questions in this verse expect the answer “no.” If these words do come from the leaders, then this verse underscores their self-delusion of power (compare 6:13). The prophet had no such mistaken sense of national grandeur (7:2, 5).
Amos 6:3 tn Heb “those who push away a day of disaster.”
Amos 6:3 tn Heb “you bring near a seat of violence.” The precise meaning of the Hebrew term שֶׁבֶת (shevet, “seat, sitting”) is unclear in this context. The translation assumes that it refers to a throne from which violence (in the person of the oppressive leaders) reigns. Another option is that the expression refers not to the leaders’ oppressive rule, but to the coming judgment when violence will overtake the nation in the person of enemy invaders.
Amos 6:4 tn Heb “beds of ivory.”
Amos 6:5 tn The meaning of the Hebrew verb פָּרַט (parat), which occurs only here in the OT, is unclear. Some translate “strum,” “pluck,” or “improvise.”
Amos 6:5 tn Heb “upon the mouth of,” that is, “according to.”
Amos 6:5 sn The stringed instruments mentioned here are probably harps (cf. NIV, NRSV) or lutes (cf. NEB).
Amos 6:5 tn The meaning of the Hebrew phrase חָשְׁבוּ לָהֶם (khash^evu lahem) is uncertain. Various options include: (1) “they think their musical instruments are like David’s”; (2) “they consider themselves musicians like David”; (3) “they esteem musical instruments highly like David”; (4) “they improvise [new songs] for themselves [on] instruments like David”; and (5) “they invent musical instruments like David.” However, the most commonly accepted interpretation is that given in the translation (see S. M. Paul, Amos [Hermeneia], 206-7).
Amos 6:6 sn Perhaps some religious rite is in view, or the size of the bowls is emphasized (i.e., bowls as large as sacrificial bowls).
Amos 6:6 tn Heb “with the best of oils they anoint [themselves].”
Amos 6:6 tn Or “not sickened by.”
Amos 6:6 sn The ruin of Joseph may refer to the societal disintegration in Israel, or to the effects of the impending judgment.
Amos 6:7 tn Heb “they will go into exile at the head of the exiles.”
Amos 6:7 sn Religious banquets. This refers to the מַרְזֵחַ (marzeakh), a type of pagan religious banquet popular among the upper class of Israel at this time and apparently associated with mourning. See P. King, Amos, Hosea, Micah, 137-61; J. L. McLaughlin, The “Marzeah” in the Prophetic Literature (VTSup). Scholars debate whether at this banquet the dead were simply remembered or actually venerated in a formal, cultic sense.
Amos 6:7 tn Heb “of the sprawled out.” See v. 4.
Amos 6:8 tn Heb “swears by his life”; or “swears by himself.”
Amos 6:8 tn Heb “his,” referring to Jacob, which stands here for the nation of Israel.
Amos 6:8 tn The words “to their enemies” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
Amos 6:8 tn Heb “the city”; this probably refers to the city of Samaria (cf. 6:1), which in turn, by metonymy, represents the entire northern kingdom.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Completing the Collection for the Saints

8 Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters,^[a] the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, ²that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth^[b] of their generosity. ³For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily,^[c] ⁴begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping^[d] the saints. ⁵And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. ⁶Thus^[e] we urged^[f] Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work,^[g] so also he should complete this act of kindness^[h] for you. ⁷But as you excel^[i] in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you^[j]—make sure that you excel^[k] in this act of kindness^[l] too. ⁸I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.^[m] ⁹For you know the grace^[n] of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich. ¹⁰So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you^[o] made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, ¹¹to finish what you started,^[p] so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly,^[q] you can also complete it according to your means.^[r] ¹²For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself^[s] is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. ¹⁴At the present time, your abundance will meet their need,^[t] so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, ¹⁵as it is written: “The one who gathered^[u] much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”^[v]

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 8:1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
2 Corinthians 8:2 tn Or “riches.”
2 Corinthians 8:3 tn Or “spontaneously.”
2 Corinthians 8:4 tn Or “of ministering to.”
2 Corinthians 8:6 tn A new sentence was started here in the translation and the word “thus” was supplied to indicate that it expresses the result of the previous clause.
2 Corinthians 8:6 tn Or “we exhorted.”
2 Corinthians 8:6 tn The words “this work” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted and must be supplied from the context.
2 Corinthians 8:6 tn Grk “this grace.”
2 Corinthians 8:7 tn Grk “as you abound.”
2 Corinthians 8:7 tc The reading “the love from us that is in you” is very difficult in this context, for Paul is here enumerating the Corinthians’ attributes: How is it possible for them to excel “in the love from us that is in you”? Most likely, because of this difficulty, several early scribes, as well as most later ones (א C D F G Ψ [33] M lat), altered the text to read “your love for us” (so NIV; Grk ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ [ex humōn en hēmin agapē]). The reading ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ (ex hēmōn en humin agapē) is found, however, in excellent and early witnesses (P⁴⁶ B 0243 6 104 630 1175 1739 1881 co). As the harder reading it explains the rise of the other reading. What, then, is the force of “in the love from us that is in you”? Most likely, Paul is commending the Corinthians for excelling in deriving some inspiration from the apostles’ love for them.
2 Corinthians 8:7 tn Grk “you abound.”
2 Corinthians 8:7 tn Grk “this grace.”
2 Corinthians 8:8 tn Grk “by means of the eagerness of others.”
2 Corinthians 8:9 tn Or “generosity.”
2 Corinthians 8:10 tn Grk “who.”
2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “and now also complete the doing.”
2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “just as the eagerness to want [it].”
2 Corinthians 8:11 tn Grk “complete from what you have.”
2 Corinthians 8:12 tn The words “the gift itself” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Translators often supply an English phrase like “it is” (NASB) but in the context, Paul is clearly referring to the collection Titus was to oversee (2 Cor 8:4-7). Therefore there is no reason not to specify the referent (the gift) more narrowly for clarity.
2 Corinthians 8:14 tn Or “their lack.”
2 Corinthians 8:15 tn The word “gathered” is not in the Greek text, but is implied (so also for the second occurrence of the word later in the verse).
2 Corinthians 8:15 sn A quotation from Exod 16:18.

New English Translation (NET)

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Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

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The Party is over for the Rich

Footnotes

Completing the Collection for the Saints

Footnotes