Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Prayer for Protection from the Wicked.
For the music director; for [a]flute accompaniment. A Psalm of David.
5 (A)Listen to my words, Lord,
Consider my (B)sighing.
2 Listen to (C)the sound of my cry for help, (D)my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
3 In the morning, Lord, [b]You will hear my voice;
In the (E)morning I will present my [c]prayer to You and be on the (F)watch.
4 For You are not a God (G)who takes pleasure in wickedness;
(H)No evil can dwell with You.
5 The (I)boastful will not (J)stand before Your eyes;
You (K)hate all who do injustice.
6 You (L)destroy those who speak lies;
The Lord loathes (M)the person of bloodshed and deceit.
7 But as for me, (N)by Your abundant graciousness I will enter Your house,
[d]At Your holy temple I will (O)bow in (P)reverence for You.
8 Lord, (Q)lead me (R)in Your righteousness (S)because of my enemies;
Make Your way [e]straight before me.
9 For there is (T)nothing [f]trustworthy in [g]their mouth;
Their (U)inward part is destruction itself.
Their (V)throat is an open grave;
They [h]flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them pay, God;
(W)Have them fall by their own schemes!
(X)Scatter them in the multitude of their wrongdoings,
For they are (Y)rebellious against You.
9 The (A)word of the Lord also came to me, saying, 10 “(B)Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah; and you shall go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.
The Symbolic Crowns
11 Also take silver and gold, make an ornate (C)crown, and set it on the head of (D)Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then say to him, ‘The Lord of armies says this: “Behold, there is a Man whose name is [a](E)Branch, for He will [b](F)branch out from where He is; and He will (G)build the temple of the Lord. 13 Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will (H)bear the majesty and sit and (I)rule on His throne. So He will be a (J)priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two [c]offices.”’ 14 Now the (K)crown will become a reminder in the temple of the Lord to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and [d]Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 (L)Those who are far away will come and [e]build the temple of the Lord.” Then you will (M)know that the Lord of armies has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely (N)obey [f]the Lord your God.
3 (A)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who (B)according to His great mercy (C)has caused us to be born again to (D)a living hope through the (E)resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an (F)inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and (G)will not fade away, (H)reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are (I)protected by the power of God (J)through faith for (K)a salvation ready (L)to be revealed in the last time. 6 (M)In this you greatly rejoice, even though now (N)for a little while, (O)if necessary, you have been distressed by (P)various [a]trials, 7 so that the [b](Q)proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes (R)though tested by fire, (S)may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at (T)the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and (U)though you have not seen Him, you (V)love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and [c]full of glory, 9 obtaining as (W)the outcome of your faith, the salvation of [d]your souls.
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