◀ All Reading Plans / Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary) / Psalm 37:1-9 (Commit your way to the Lord); 2 Kings 19:8-20 35-37 (God saves the people); Revelation 2:12-29 (Call to faithfulness) (New English Translation)

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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

Psalm 37:1-9

Psalm 37^[a]

By David.

37 Do not fret^[b] when wicked men seem to succeed.^[c]
Do not envy evildoers.
²For they will quickly dry up like grass,
and wither away like plants.^[d]
³Trust in the Lord and do what is right.
Settle in the land and maintain your integrity.^[e]
⁴Then you will take delight in the Lord,^[f]
and he will answer your prayers.^[g]
⁵Commit your future to the Lord.^[h]
Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.^[i]
⁶He will vindicate you in broad daylight,
and publicly defend your just cause.^[j]
⁷Wait patiently for the Lord!^[k]
Wait confidently^[l] for him!
Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner,^[m]
a man who carries out wicked schemes.
⁸Do not be angry and frustrated.^[n]
Do not fret. That only leads to trouble.
⁹Wicked men^[o] will be wiped out,^[p]
but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land.^[q]

Footnotes

Psalm 37:1 sn Psalm 37. The psalmist urges his audience not to envy the wicked, but to trust in and obey the Lord, for he will destroy sinners and preserve the godly. When the smoke of judgment clears, the wicked will be gone, but the godly will remain and inherit God’s promised blessings. The psalm is an acrostic; every other verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 37:1 tn The verb form is singular (see vv. 3-10 as well, where the second person verbs and pronouns are also singular). The psalmist’s exhortation has a wisdom flavor to it; it is personalized for each member of his audience.
Psalm 37:1 tn Heb “over sinners.” The context indicates that the psalmist has in mind the apparent power and success of sinners. See v. 7b.
Psalm 37:2 tn Heb “like green vegetation.”
Psalm 37:3 tn Heb “tend integrity.” The verb רָעָה (raʿah, “tend, shepherd”) is probably used here in the sense of “watch over, guard.” The noun אֱמוּנָה (ʾemunah, “faithfulness, honesty, integrity”) is understood as the direct object of the verb, though it could be taken as an adverbial accusative, “[feed] securely,” if the audience is likened to a flock of sheep.
Psalm 37:4 tn Following the imperatives of v. 3 the prefixed verbal forms with vav (ו) in v. 4 indicate result. Faith and obedience (v. 3) will bring divine blessing (v. 4).
Psalm 37:4 tn Or “and he will give you what you desire most.” Heb “and he will grant to you the requests of your heart.”
Psalm 37:5 tn Heb “roll your way upon the Lord.” The noun “way” may refer here to one’s activities or course of life.
Psalm 37:5 tn Heb “he will act.” Verse 6 explains what is meant; the Lord will vindicate those who trust in him.
Psalm 37:6 tn Heb “and he will bring out like light your vindication, and your just cause like noonday.”
Psalm 37:7 tn Heb “Be quiet before the Lord!”
Psalm 37:7 tc The Hebrew text has וְהִתְחוֹלֵל (v^ehitkholel, Hitpolel of חִיל, khil, “writhe with fear, suffer”) but this idea fits awkwardly here. The text should be changed to וְתוֹחֵל (v^etokhel; Hiphil of יָחַל, yakhal, “wait”). It appears that the Hebrew text is the product of dittography: (1) the initial וה (vav-he) is accidentally repeated from the preceding word (יְהוָה, y^ehvah) and (2) the final ל (lamed) is accidentally repeated (note the preceding lamed and the initial lamed on the following form, לו).
Psalm 37:7 tn Heb “over one who causes his way to be successful.”
Psalm 37:8 tn Heb “Refrain from anger! Abandon rage!”
Psalm 37:9 tn Heb “for evil men.” The conjunction כִּי (ki, “for”) relates to the exhortations in v. 8; there is no reason to be frustrated, for the evildoers will be punished in due time.
Psalm 37:9 tn Or “cut off, removed.”
Psalm 37:9 tn Heb “and those who wait on the Lord, they will possess the land.”

2 Kings 19:8-20

⁸When the chief adviser heard the king of Assyria had departed from Lachish, he left and went to Libnah, where the king was campaigning.^[a] ⁹The king^[b] heard that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was marching out to fight him.^[c] He again sent messengers to Hezekiah, ordering them: ¹⁰“Tell King Hezekiah of Judah this: ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust mislead you when he says, “Jerusalem will not be handed over^[d] to the king of Assyria.” ¹¹Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands.^[e] Do you really think you will be rescued?^[f] ¹²Were the nations whom my ancestors destroyed—the nations of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Telassar—rescued by their gods?^[g] ¹³Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the kings of Lair,^[h] Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”

¹⁴Hezekiah took the letter^[i] from the messengers and read it.^[j] Then Hezekiah went up to the Lord’s temple and spread it out before the Lord. ¹⁵Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: “Lord God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim!^[k] You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky^[l] and the earth. ¹⁶Pay attention, Lord, and hear! Open your eyes, Lord, and observe! Listen to the message Sennacherib sent and how he taunts the living God!^[m] ¹⁷It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands. ¹⁸They have burned the gods of the nations,^[n] for they are not really gods, but only the product of human hands manufactured from wood and stone. That is why the Assyrians could destroy them.^[o] ¹⁹Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you, Lord, are the only God.”

²⁰Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord God of Israel has said: ‘I have heard your prayer^[p] concerning King Sennacherib of Assyria.

2 Kings 19:35-37

³⁵That very night the angel of the Lord went out and killed 185,000 in the Assyrian camp. When they^[a] got up early the next morning, there were all the corpses.^[b] ³⁶So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and went on his way. He went home and stayed in Nineveh.^[c] ³⁷One day,^[d] as he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch,^[e] his sons^[f] Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword.^[g] They escaped to the land of Ararat; his son Esarhaddon replaced him as king.

Revelation 2:12-29

To the Church in Pergamum

¹²“To^[a] the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following:^[b]

“This is the solemn pronouncement of^[c] the one who has the sharp double-edged sword:^[d] ¹³‘I know^[e] where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet^[f] you continue to cling^[g] to my name and you have not denied your^[h] faith in me,^[i] even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,^[j] who was killed in your city^[k] where Satan lives. ¹⁴But I have a few things against you: You have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam,^[l] who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block^[m] before the people^[n] of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.^[o] ¹⁵In the same way, there are also some among you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans.^[p] ¹⁶Therefore,^[q] repent! If not, I will come against you quickly and make war against those people^[r] with the sword of my mouth. ¹⁷The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers,^[s] I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white^[t] stone,^[u] and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand^[v] except the one who receives it.’

To the Church in Thyatira

¹⁸“To^[w] the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following:^[x]

“This is the solemn pronouncement of^[y] the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame^[z] and whose feet are like polished bronze:^[aa] ¹⁹‘I know your deeds: your love, faith,^[ab] service, and steadfast endurance.^[ac] In fact,^[ad] your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones. ²⁰But I have this against you: You tolerate that^[ae] woman^[af] Jezebel,^[ag] who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives^[ah] my servants^[ai] to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.^[aj] ²¹I^[ak] have given her time to repent, but^[al] she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality. ²²Look! I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness,^[am] and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering,^[an] unless they repent of her deeds. ²³Furthermore, I will strike her followers^[ao] with a deadly disease,^[ap] and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay^[aq] each one of you^[ar] what your deeds deserve.^[as] ²⁴But to the rest of you in Thyatira, all who do not hold to this teaching^[at] (who have not learned the so-called “deep secrets^[au] of Satan”), to you I say: I do not put any additional burden on you. ²⁵However, hold on to what you have until I come. ²⁶And to the one who conquers^[av] and who continues in^[aw] my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations^[ax]—

²⁷he^[ay] will rule^[az] them with an iron rod^[ba]
and like clay jars he will break them to pieces,^[bb]

²⁸just as I have received the right to rule^[bc] from my Father—and I will give him the morning star.^[bd] ²⁹The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Footnotes

Revelation 2:12 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
Revelation 2:12 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
Revelation 2:12 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
Revelation 2:12 sn On the sharp double-edged sword see 1:16.
Revelation 2:13 tc The shorter reading adopted here has superior ms support (א A C P 2053 al latt co), while the inclusion of “your works and” (τὰ ἔργα σου καί, ta erga sou kai) before “where you reside” is supported by the Byzantine witnesses and is evidently a secondary attempt to harmonize the passage with 2:2, 19; 3:1, 8, 15.
Revelation 2:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Yet” to indicate the contrast between their location and their faithful behavior.
Revelation 2:13 tn The present indicative verb κρατεῖς (krateis) has been translated as a progressive present.
Revelation 2:13 tn Grk “the faith”; here the Greek article is used as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
Revelation 2:13 tn Grk “the faith of me” (τὴν πίστιν μου, tēn pistin mou) with the genitive “of me” (μου) functioning objectively.
Revelation 2:13 tn Or “martyr.” The Greek word μάρτυς can mean either “witness” or “martyr.”
Revelation 2:13 tn Grk “killed among you.” The term “city” does not occur in the Greek text of course, but the expression παρ᾿ ὑμῖν, ὅπου ὁ σατανᾶς κατοικεῖ (par’ humin, hopou ho satanas katoikei) seems to indicate that this is what is meant. See G. B. Caird, Revelation (HNTC), 36-38.
Revelation 2:14 sn See Num 22-24; 31:16.
Revelation 2:14 tn That is, a cause for sinning. An alternate translation is “who instructed Balak to cause the people of Israel to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols…”
Revelation 2:14 tn Grk “sons,” but the expression υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραήλ (huioi Israēl) is an idiom for the people of Israel as an ethnic entity (see L&N 11.58).
Revelation 2:14 tn Due to the actual events in the OT (Num 22-24; 31:16), πορνεῦσαι (porneusai) is taken to mean “sexual immorality.” BDAG 854 s.v. πορνεύω 1 states, “engage in illicit sex, to fornicate, to whore…W. φαγεῖν εἰδωλόθυτα ‘eat meat offered to idols’ Rv 2:14, 20.”
Revelation 2:15 tn The term ὁμοίως (homoiōs, “likewise”) is left untranslated because it is quite redundant.sn See the note on the term Nicolaitans in 2:6.
Revelation 2:16 tc The “therefore” (οὖν, oun) is not found in א 2053 2329 2351 M^A or the Latin mss. It is, however, included in impressive witnesses such as A C 046 1006 1611 sy^p,h co. Though the conjunction looks at first glance like a scribal clarification, its omission may be explained on the basis of its similarity to the last three letters of the verb “repent” (μετανόησον, metanoēson; since οὖν is a postpositive conjunction in Greek, the final three letters of the verb [-σον, -son] would have been immediately followed by ουν). A scribe could have simply passed over the conjunction in his copy when he saw the last three letters of the imperative verb. A decision is difficult, however, because of the motivation to add to the text and the quality of witnesses that lack the conjunction.
Revelation 2:16 tn Grk “with them”; the referent (those people who follow the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
Revelation 2:17 tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.” The pendent dative is allowed to stand in the English translation because it is characteristic of the author’s style in Revelation.
Revelation 2:17 tn Or “bright.” The Greek term λευκός (leukos) can refer either to the color white (traditional here) or to an object that is bright or shining, either from itself or from an outside source of illumination (L&N 14.50; 79.27).
Revelation 2:17 tn On the interpretation of the stone, L&N 2.27 states, “A number of different suggestions have been made as to the reference of ψῆφος in this context. Some scholars believe that the white ψῆφος indicates a vote of acquittal in court. Others contend that it is simply a magical amulet; still others, a token of Roman hospitality; and finally, some have suggested that it may represent a ticket to the gladiatorial games, that is to say, to martyrdom. The context, however, suggests clearly that this is something to be prized and a type of reward for those who have ‘won the victory.’”
Revelation 2:17 tn Or “know”; for the meaning “understand” see L&N 32.4.
Revelation 2:18 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
Revelation 2:18 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
Revelation 2:18 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
Revelation 2:18 tn Grk “a flame of fire.” The Greek term πυρός (puros) has been translated as an attributive genitive.
Revelation 2:18 tn The precise meaning of the term translated “polished bronze” (χαλκολιβάνῳ, chalkolibanō), which appears no where else in Greek literature outside of the book of Revelation (see 1:15), is uncertain. Without question it is some sort of metal. BDAG 1076 s.v. χαλκολίβανον suggests “fine brass/bronze.” L&N 2.57 takes the word to refer to particularly valuable or fine bronze, but notes that the emphasis here and in Rev 1:15 is more on the lustrous quality of the metal.
Revelation 2:19 tn Grk “and faith.” Here and before the following term καί (kai) has not been translated because English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the next to last and last terms in a list.
Revelation 2:19 tn Or “perseverance.”
Revelation 2:19 tn The phrase “In fact” is supplied in the translation to bring out the ascensive quality of the clause. It would also be possible to supply here an understood repetition of the phrase “I know” from the beginning of the verse (so NRSV). Grk “and your last deeds [that are] greater than the first.”
Revelation 2:20 tn The Greek article has been translated here with demonstrative force.
Revelation 2:20 tc The ms evidence for γυναῖκα (gunaika, “woman”) alone includes א C P 1611 2053 lat. The ms evidence for the addition of “your” (σου, sou) includes A 1006 2351 M^K pc sy. With the pronoun, the text reads “your wife, Jezebel” instead of “that woman, Jezebel.” In Revelation, A C are the most important mss, along with א P⁴⁷ (which only reads in portions of chapters 9-17) 1006 1611 2053; in this instance, the external evidence slightly favors the shorter reading. But internally, it gains strength. The longer reading implies the idea that the angel in 2:18 is the bishop or leader of the church in Thyatira. The pronoun “your” (σου) is used four times in vv. 19-20 and may have been the cause for the scribe copying it again. Further, once the monarchical episcopate was in vogue (beginning in the 2nd century) scribes might have been prone to add “your” here.
Revelation 2:20 sn Jezebel was the name of King Ahab’s idolatrous and wicked queen in 1 Kgs 16:31; 18:1-5; 19:1-3; 21:5-24. It is probable that the individual named here was analogous to her prototype in idolatry and immoral behavior, since those are the items singled out for mention.
Revelation 2:20 tn Grk “teaches and deceives” (διδάσκει καὶ πλανᾷ, didaskei kai plana), a construction in which the first verb appears to specify the means by which the second is accomplished: “by her teaching, deceives…”
Revelation 2:20 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
Revelation 2:20 sn To commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. Note the conclusions of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:29, which specifically prohibits Gentile Christians from engaging in these activities.
Revelation 2:21 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and contemporary English style.
Revelation 2:21 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to bring out the contrast present in this woman’s obstinate refusal to repent.
Revelation 2:22 tn Grk “onto a bed,” in this context an idiom for severe illness (L&N 23.152).
Revelation 2:22 tn Or “into great distress.” The suffering here is not specified as physical or emotional, and could involve persecution.
Revelation 2:23 tn Grk “her children,” but in this context a reference to this woman’s followers or disciples is more likely meant.
Revelation 2:23 tn Grk “I will kill with death.” θάνατος (thanatos) can in particular contexts refer to a manner of death, specifically a contagious disease (see BDAG 443 s.v. 3; L&N 23.158).
Revelation 2:23 tn Grk “I will give.” The sense of δίδωμι (didōmi) in this context is more “repay” than “give.”
Revelation 2:23 sn This pronoun and the following one are plural in the Greek text.
Revelation 2:23 tn Grk “each one of you according to your works.”
Revelation 2:24 sn That is, the teaching of Jezebel (v. 20).
Revelation 2:24 tn Grk “deep things.” For the translation “deep secrets” see L&N 28.76; cf. NAB, NIV, CEV.
Revelation 2:26 tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.”
Revelation 2:26 tn Grk “keeps.” In a context that speaks of “holding on to what you have,” the idea here is one of continued faithful behavior (BDAG 1002 s.v. τηρέω 3 has “ὁ τηρῶν τὰ ἔργα μου the one who takes my deeds to heart Rv 2:26”).
Revelation 2:26 tn Or “over the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
Revelation 2:27 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
Revelation 2:27 tn Grk “will shepherd.”
Revelation 2:27 tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rhabdos) can mean either “rod” or “scepter.”
Revelation 2:27 sn A quotation from Ps 2:9 (with the line introducing the quotation containing a partial allusion to Ps 2:8). See also Rev 12:5; 19:15.
Revelation 2:28 tn What has been received is not specified in the Greek text, but must be supplied from the context. In the light of the two immediately preceding verses about rulership or dominion, it seems that the implied direct object of εἴληφα (eilēpha) is “the right to rule” (i.e., ἔχειν ἐξουσίαν ποιμάνειν, echein exousian poimanein), although many modern translations supply the word “authority” here (so NAB, NRSV, NLT).
Revelation 2:28 tn On this expression BDAG 892 s.v. πρωϊνός states, “early, belonging to the morning ὁ ἀστὴρ ὁ πρ. the morning star, Venus Rv 2:28; 22:16.”

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Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 37[a]

By David.

Footnotes

Footnotes

Footnotes

To the Church in Pergamum

To the Church in Thyatira

Footnotes

Psalm 37^[a]