Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
For the director of music. A psalm of Asaph to the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.”
80 Shepherd of Israel, hear us.
You lead the people of Joseph like a flock.
You sit on your throne between the cherubim.
Show your glory
2 to the people of Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Call your strength into action.
Come and save us.
3 God, make us new again.
May you be pleased with us.
Then we will be saved.
4 Lord God, you rule over all.
How long will you be angry?
Will you be angry with your people even when they pray to you?
5 You have given us tears as our food.
You have made us drink tears by the bowlful.
6 You have let our neighbors mock us.
Our enemies laugh at us.
7 God who rules over all, make us new again.
May you be pleased with us.
Then we will be saved.
8 You brought Israel out of Egypt.
Israel was like a vine.
After you drove the nations out of Canaan,
you planted the vine in their land.
9 You prepared the ground for it.
It took root and spread out over the whole land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade.
The shade of its branches covered the mighty cedar trees.
11 Your vine sent its branches out all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.
They reached as far as the Euphrates River.
12 Why have you broken down the walls around your vine?
Now all who pass by it can pick its grapes.
13 Wild pigs from the forest destroy it.
Insects from the fields feed on it.
14 God who rules over all, return to us!
Look down from heaven and see us!
Watch over your vine.
15 Guard the root you have planted with your powerful right hand.
Take care of the branch you have raised up for yourself.
16 Your vine has been cut down and burned in the fire.
You have been angry with us, and we are dying.
17 May you honor the people at your right hand.
May you honor the nation you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we won’t turn away from you.
Give us new life. We will worship you.
19 Lord God who rules over all, make us new again.
May you be pleased with us.
Then we will be saved.
The Sinful Women in Jerusalem
9 You women who are so contented,
pay attention to me.
You who feel so secure,
listen to what I have to say.
10 You feel secure now.
But in a little over a year you will tremble with fear.
The grape harvest will fail.
There won’t be any fruit.
11 So tremble, you contented women.
Tremble with fear, you who feel so secure.
Take off your fine clothes.
Wrap yourselves in rags.
12 Beat your chests to show how sad you are.
The pleasant fields have been destroyed.
The fruitful vines have dried up.
13 My people’s land is overgrown with thorns and bushes.
Mourn for all the houses that were once filled with joy.
Cry over this city that used to be full of wild parties.
14 The royal palace will be left empty.
The noisy city will be deserted.
The fort and lookout tower will become
a dry and empty desert forever.
Donkeys will enjoy being there.
Flocks will eat there.
15 That will continue until the Holy Spirit
is poured out on us from heaven.
Then the desert will be turned into rich farm lands.
The rich farm lands will seem like a forest.
16 In the desert, the Lord will make sure people do what is right.
In the rich farm lands he will make sure they treat one another fairly.
17 Doing what is right will bring peace and rest.
When my people do that, they will stay calm
and trust in the Lord forever.
18 They will live in a peaceful land.
Their homes will be secure.
They will enjoy peace and quiet.
19 Hail might strip the forests bare.
Cities might be completely destroyed.
20 But how blessed you people will be!
You will plant your seeds by every stream.
You will let your cattle and donkeys
wander anywhere they want to.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure. That’s the most important thing about it. And that’s not all. It also loves peace. It thinks about others. It obeys. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It is fair. It doesn’t pretend to be what it is not. 18 Those who make peace plant it like a seed. They will harvest a crop of right living.
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