Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
God’s People Brought Home
7 For this is what the Lord says:
Sing with joy for Jacob;
shout for the foremost of the nations!
Proclaim, praise, and say,
“Lord, save your people,(A)
the remnant of Israel!” (B)
8 Watch! I am going to bring them from the northern land.
I will gather them from remote regions of the earth(C)—
the blind and the lame will be with them,(D)
along with those who are pregnant and those about to give birth.
They will return here as a great assembly!(E)
9 They will come weeping,
but I will bring them back with consolation.[a](F)
I will lead them to wadis filled with water,
by a smooth way where they will not stumble,(G)
for I am Israel’s Father,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.(H)
10 Nations, hear the word of the Lord,
and tell it among the far off coasts and islands!(I)
Say, “The one who scattered Israel will gather him.(J)
He will watch over him as a shepherd guards his flock,
11 for the Lord has ransomed Jacob
and redeemed him from the power of one stronger than he.”(K)
12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;(L)
they will be radiant with joy(M)
because of the Lord’s goodness,
because of the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil,(N)
and because of the young of the flocks and herds.
Their life will be like an irrigated garden,
and they will no longer grow weak from hunger.
13 Then the young women will rejoice with dancing,
while young and old men rejoice together.
I will turn their mourning into joy,(O)
give them consolation,
and bring happiness out of grief.
14 I will refresh the priests with an abundance,[b](P)
and my people will be satisfied with my goodness.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
12 Exalt the Lord, Jerusalem;
praise your God, Zion!(A)
13 For he strengthens the bars of your city gates
and blesses your children within you.(B)
14 He endows your territory with prosperity;[a](C)
he satisfies you with the finest wheat.(D)
God’s Rich Blessings
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.(A) 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.[a](B) 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace(C) that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.(D)
7 In him we have redemption(E) through his blood, the forgiveness(F) of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.[b] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will,(G) according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ(H) 10 as a plan for the right time[c]—to bring everything together in Christ,(I) both things in heaven and things on earth(J) in him.(K)
11 In him we have also received an inheritance,[d] because we were predestined(L) according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope(M) in Christ might bring praise to his glory.(N)
13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit(O) when you heard the word of truth,(P) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment(Q) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
Prologue
1 In the beginning(A) was the Word,(B) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.(C) 2 He was with God in the beginning.(D) 3 All things were created(E) through him,(F) and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life,[a](G) and that life was the light(H) of men. 5 That light shines(I) in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome[b] it.(J)
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.(K) 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.[c] 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify(L) about the light. 9 The true light(M) that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.[d](N)
10 He was in the world, and the world was created(A) through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive(B) him,(C) he gave them the right(D) to be[a] children(E) of God,(F) to those who believe(G) in his name,(H) 13 who were born,(I) not of natural descent,[b] or of the will(J) of the flesh,(K) or of the will of man,[c] but of God.(L)
14 The Word(M) became flesh(N) and dwelt[d] among us. We observed his glory,(O) the glory as the one and only(P) Son[e] from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me(Q) ranks ahead of me,(R) because he existed before me.’”)(S) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace(T) upon[f] grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses;(U) grace and truth(V) came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only(W) Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s(X) side[g]—he has revealed him.(Y)
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