Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
A Prayer for the King
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
20 May the Lord answer you in ·times [L the day] of ·trouble [distress].
May the name of the God of Jacob ·protect [defend; provide refuge for] you [Num. 6:24].
2 May he send you help from ·his Temple [L the sanctuary]
and support you from Mount Zion [C location of the Temple].
3 May he remember all your ·offerings [gifts; tributes; grain offerings; Lev. 2]
and ·accept [look with favor on] all your ·sacrifices [L whole burnt offerings; Lev. 1]. ·
4 May he give you ·what you want [L all your heart]
and ·make all your plans succeed [L fulfill all your plans],
5 and we will shout for joy when you ·succeed [are victorious; C as in battle],
and we will raise a ·flag [banner] in the name of our God.
May the Lord ·give you [fulfill] all that you ask for.
6 Now I know the Lord ·helps [saves; gives victory to] his ·appointed king [anointed].
He answers him from his holy heaven
and ·saves him [gives him victory] with his strong right hand.
7 Some ·trust in [boast in; rely on] chariots, others in horses,
but we ·trust [boast in; rely on] the name of the Lord our God [Is. 2:7].
8 They ·are overwhelmed and defeated [collapse and fall],
but we ·march forward and win [L rise and stand erect].
9 Lord, ·save [give victory to] the king!
Answer us when we call for help.
15 This is what the Lord says:
“A voice was heard in Ramah [C a place from which God’s people were deported into exile; 40:1; Matt. 2:18]
of ·painful crying [lamentation] and ·deep sadness [L bitter weeping]:
Rachel crying for her children [C the Israelites].
She refused to be comforted,
because her children are ·dead [L no more]!”
16 But this is what the Lord says:
“·Stop crying [L Refrain your voice from weeping];
·don’t let your eyes fill with tears [L your eyes from tears].
You will be rewarded for your work!” says the Lord.
“The people will return from their enemy’s land.
17 So there is hope for you in the future,” says the Lord.
“Your children will return to their own ·land [borders].
18 “I have heard ·Israel [L Ephraim] ·moaning [pleading]:
‘Lord, you ·punished [disciplined; instructed] me, and I ·have learned my lesson [was disciplined/instructed].
I was like a calf that had never been trained [Hos. 10:11].
Take me back so that I may come back.
You truly are the Lord my God.
19 Lord, after I ·wandered away [turned away] from you,
I ·changed my heart and life [L repented].
After I understood,
I beat my ·breast [L thigh; C showing sorrow].
I was ashamed and ·disgraced [humiliated],
because I ·suffered for the foolish things I did when I was young [L carried the reproach of my youth].’
20 “·You know that Israel is my dear son [L Do you know how precious Ephraim is to me…?],
The child I ·love [delight in].
Yes, I often speak against him [C Israel],
but I still remember him.
·I love him very much [L My innards roil/churn toward him],
and I want to ·comfort [be compassionate toward] him,” says the Lord.
21 “·Fix [L Put up; Erect] the road ·signs [markers].
·Put up signs to show you the way home [L Make guideposts].
·Watch the road [L Set your heart toward the highway].
Pay attention to the road on which you travel.
·People [L Virgin daughter; Young woman] of Israel, ·come home [L return; repent],
·come back to [L return to these] your towns.
22 You are an unfaithful daughter.
How long will you ·wander before you come home [L waver]?
The Lord has ·made [created] something new happen in the land:
A woman will ·go seeking [or protect; or embrace; L surround] a man.”
Jesus Cries for Jerusalem
41 As Jesus came near Jerusalem, he saw the city and ·cried for [wept over] it, 42 saying, “·I wish you [L If you, even you,] ·knew [recognized] today what would bring you peace. But now it is hidden from ·you [L your eyes]. 43 ·The time is coming [L For the days will come upon you] when your enemies will build ·a wall around you [ramparts against your walls] and will ·hold you in [L surround and close you in] on all sides. 44 They will ·destroy you [level you; smash you to the ground] and all your ·people [L children within your walls], and not one stone will be left on another. All this will happen because you did not recognize the time ·when God came to save you [L of your visitation; C the failure to recognize God’s “visit” in Jesus (see 1:68, 78) will result in a divine “visit” in judgment].”
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