Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 97
The Lord Reigns. Throw Away Your Idols
Introduction
1 The Lord reigns. Let the earth celebrate.
Let the many islands and coastlands rejoice.
God Will Judge
2 Clouds and deep darkness surround him.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes out in front of him.
It burns up his foes all around him.
4 His lightning lights up the world.
The earth sees and writhes in pain.
5 The mountains melt like wax
in the presence of the Lord,
in the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
Warning Against Idols
7 All who serve idols are put to shame,
those who boast in “nothings.”[a]
Bow to him, all you gods![b]
His People’s Response
8 Zion hears and rejoices,
and the daughters of Judah[c] celebrate
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9 For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.
You are raised up far above all gods.
10 Let those who love the Lord hate evil.
He guards the lives of his favored ones.
He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light rises[d] for the righteous
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,
and give thanks as you remember his holiness.
18 Then Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”
19 The Lord said, “I will make all my goodness pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord in your presence. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.” 20 He said, “You cannot see my face, for no human may see me and live.”
21 The Lord also said, “Look, there is a place next to me, where you shall stand on the rock. 22 It will happen that, while my glory passes by, I will put you in a crevice in the rock. I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back. But my face will not be seen.”
14 The Word became flesh and dwelled[a] among us. We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John testified about him. He cried out, “This was the one I spoke about when I said, ‘The one coming after me outranks me because he existed before me.’” 16 For[b] out of his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son,[c] who is close to the Father’s side, has made him known.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.