Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Second Book—Psalms 42–72

Psalm 42^[a]

Longing for God’s Presence in the Temple

¹ For the leader. A maskil of the Korahites.^[b]

I

II

Chapter 47

The Wonderful Stream.^{[a] 1} Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and there! I saw water flowing out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east. The water flowed out toward the right side of the temple to the south of the altar.^{(A) 2} He brought me by way of the north gate and around the outside to the outer gate facing east; there I saw water trickling from the southern side. ³ When he continued eastward with a measuring cord in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and had me wade through the water; it was ankle-deep. ⁴ He measured off another thousand cubits and once more had me wade through the water; it was up to the knees. He measured another thousand cubits and had me wade through the water; it was up to my waist. ⁵ Once more he measured off a thousand cubits. Now it was a river I could not wade across. The water had risen so high, I would have to swim—a river that was impassable. ⁶ Then he asked me, “Do you see this, son of man?” He brought me to the bank of the river and had me sit down. ⁷ As I was returning, I saw along the bank of the river a great many trees on each side.^{(B) 8} He said to me, “This water flows out into the eastern district, runs down into the Arabah and empties into the polluted waters of the sea^[b] to freshen them.^{(C) 9} Wherever it flows, the river teems with every kind of living creature; fish will abound. Where these waters flow they refresh; everything lives where the river goes. ¹⁰ Fishermen will stand along its shore from En-gedi to En-eglaim;^[c] it will become a place for drying nets, and it will abound with as many kinds of fish as the Great Sea.^{(D) 11} Its marshes and swamps shall not be made fresh, but will be left for salt. ¹² Along each bank of the river every kind of fruit tree will grow; their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fresh fruit because the waters of the river flow out from the sanctuary. Their fruit is used for food, and their leaves for healing.”^(E)

The New Israel

Boundaries of the Land.^[d]

Exhortations. ¹⁷ But you, beloved, remember the words spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(A) 18} for they told you,^(B) “In [the] last time there will be scoffers who will live according to their own godless desires.”^{[a] 19} These are the ones who cause divisions; they live on the natural plane, devoid of the Spirit.^{(C) 20} But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the holy Spirit.^{(D) 21} Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.^{(E) 22} On those who waver, have mercy;^{[b] 23} save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear,^[c] abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.

Doxology.^{[d] 24} To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished and exultant, in the presence of his glory,^{(F) 25} to the only God, our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, power, and authority from ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen.^(G)