Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Remembering the Covenant with David, and Sorrow for Lost Blessings

A ^[a]Contemplation of ^(A)Ethan the Ezrahite.

Seventy Years of Desolation

25 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, ^(A)in the fourth year of ^(B)Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), ² which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: ^3 (C)“From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, this is the twenty-third year in which the word of the Lord has come to me; and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, ^(D)but you have not listened. ⁴ And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets, ^(E)rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. ⁵ They said, ^(F)‘Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord has given to you and your fathers forever and ever. ⁶ Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you.’ ⁷ Yet you have not listened to Me,” says the Lord, “that you might ^(G)provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that ^(A)if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised ^(B)that he is ^[a]a debtor to keep the whole law. ^4 (C)You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; ^(D)you have fallen from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit eagerly ^(E)wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶ For ^(F)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but ^(G)faith working through love.