Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
All Men Exhorted to Praise God.
A Psalm for [a]Thanksgiving.
Prophecy against Babylon
50 The word which the Lord spoke concerning (A)Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet:
2 “(B)Declare and proclaim among the nations.
Proclaim it and (C)lift up a standard.
Do not conceal it but say,
‘(D)Babylon has been captured,
(E)Bel has been put to shame, [a]Marduk has been [b]shattered;
Her (F)images have been put to shame, her idols have been shattered.’
3 For a nation has come up against her out of the (G)north; it will make her land (H)an object of horror, and there will be (I)no inhabitant in it. Both man and beast have wandered off, they have gone away!
4 “In those days and at that time,” declares the Lord, “the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah (J)as well; they will go along (K)weeping as they go, and it will be (L)the Lord their God they will seek. 5 They will (M)ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces [c]in its direction; [d]they [e]will come that they may join themselves to the Lord in an (N)everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.
6 “My people have become (O)lost sheep;
(P)Their shepherds have led them astray.
They have made them turn aside on the (Q)mountains;
They have gone along from mountain to hill
And have forgotten their (R)resting place.
7 “All who came upon them have devoured them;
And their adversaries have said, ‘(S)We are not guilty,
Inasmuch as they have sinned against the Lord who is the (T)habitation of righteousness,
Even the Lord, the (U)hope of their fathers.’
17 (A)Obey your leaders and submit to them, for (B)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. [a]Let them do this with joy and not [b]with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
18 (C)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a (D)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. 19 And I urge you all the more to do this, (E)so that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Benediction
20 Now (F)the God of peace, who (G)brought up from the dead the (H)great Shepherd of the sheep [c]through (I)the blood of the (J)eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 (K)equip you in every good thing to do His will, (L)working in us that (M)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, (N)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 But (O)I urge you, (P)brethren, [d]bear with [e]this (Q)word of exhortation, for (R)I have written to you briefly. 23 [f]Take notice that (S)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 24 Greet (T)all of your leaders and all the [g](U)saints. Those from (V)Italy greet you.
25 (W)Grace be with you all.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.