Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
1 The pronouncement(A) that the prophet Habakkuk saw.(B)
Habakkuk’s First Prayer
2 How long,(C) Lord, must I call for help(D)
and you do not listen
or cry out to you about violence(E)
and you do not save?
3 Why do you force me to look at injustice?(F)
Why do you tolerate[a] wrongdoing?
Oppression and violence are right in front of me.
Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.
4 This is why the law is ineffective
and justice never emerges.
For the wicked restrict(G) the righteous;
therefore, justice(H) comes out perverted.
Habakkuk Waits for God’s Response
2 I will stand at my guard post
and station myself on the lookout tower.(A)
I will watch to see what he will say to me(B)
and what I should[a] reply about my complaint.
God’s Second Answer
2 The Lord answered me:
Write down this vision;(C)
clearly inscribe it on tablets
so one may easily read it.[b]
3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time;(D)
it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it,
since it will certainly come and not be late.(E)
4 Look, his ego is inflated;[c]
he is without integrity.
But the righteous one will live by his faith.[d](F)
Psalm 37
Instruction in Wisdom
Of David.
1 Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.(A)
2 For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.(B)
3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good;(C)
dwell in the land and live securely.[a](D)
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.(E)
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act,(F)
6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.(G)
Greeting
1 Paul,(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will,(B) for the sake of the promise of life(C) in Christ Jesus:
2 To Timothy, my dearly loved son.
Grace, mercy, and peace(D) from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanksgiving
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience(E) as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.(F) 4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I recall your sincere faith(G) that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice(H) and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
6 Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.(I) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear,(J) but one of power,[a](K) love,(L) and sound judgment.
Not Ashamed of the Gospel
8 So don’t be ashamed(M) of the testimony about our Lord,(N) or of me his prisoner.(O) Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power(P) of God. 9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling,(Q) not according to our works,(R) but according to his own purpose(S) and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 10 This has now been made evident through the appearing(T) of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death(U) and has brought life(V) and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed(W) a herald, apostle, and teacher,[b] 12 and that is why I suffer(X) these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me[c](Y) until that day.(Z)
Be Loyal to the Faith
13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching(AA) that you have heard from me,(AB) in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Faith and Duty
5 The(A) apostles(B) said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”(C)
6 “If you have faith the size of[a] a mustard seed,”(D) the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
7 “Which one of you having a servant tending sheep or plowing will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 Instead, will he not tell him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, get ready, and serve me while I eat and drink; later you can eat and drink’?(E) 9 Does he thank that servant because he did what was commanded?[b] 10 In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy (F) servants; we’ve only done our duty.’”
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