Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A Hymn of Thanksgiving
For the director of music. A song of David.
65 God, you will be praised in Jerusalem.
We will keep our promises to you.
2 You hear our prayers.
All people will come to you.
3 Our guilt overwhelms us.
But you forgive our sins.
4 Happy are the people you choose.
You have them stay in your courtyards.
We are filled with good things in your house,
your holy Temple.
5 You answer us in amazing ways,
God our Savior.
People everywhere on the earth
and beyond the sea trust you.
6 You made the mountains by your strength.
You have great power.
7 You stopped the roaring seas,
the roaring waves and the uproar of the nations.
8 Even those people at the ends of the earth fear your miracles.
You are praised from where the sun rises to where it sets.
9 You take care of the land and water it.
You make it very fertile.
The rivers of God are full of water.
Grain grows because you make it grow.
10 You cause rain to fall on the plowed fields.
You soak them with water.
You soften the ground with rain.
And then you bless it.
11 You give the year a good harvest.
You load the wagons with many crops.
12 The desert is covered with grass.
The hills are covered with happiness.
13 The pastures are full of sheep.
The valleys are covered with grain.
Everything shouts and sings for joy.
Change Your Hearts
12 The Lord says, “Now, come back to me with all your heart.
Go without food, and cry and be sad.”
13 Tearing your clothes is not enough to show you are sad.
Let your heart be broken.
Come back to the Lord your God.
He is kind and shows mercy.
He doesn’t become angry quickly.
He has great love.
He would rather forgive than punish.
14 Who knows? Maybe the Lord will change his mind
and leave behind a blessing for you.
Then you may give grain and drink offerings
to the Lord your God.
15 Blow the trumpet in Jerusalem.
Call for a special time of going without food.
Call for a special meeting.
16 Bring the people together.
Make the meeting holy for the Lord.
Bring together the elders.
Bring together the children,
even babies that still feed at their mothers’ breasts.
The bridegroom should come from his room.
The bride should come from her bedroom.
17 The priests, the Lord’s servants, should cry.
They should cry between the altar and entrance to the Temple.
They should say, “Lord, have mercy on your people.
Don’t let them be put to shame.
Don’t let other nations make fun of them.
Don’t let people in other nations ask,
‘Where is their God?’”
The Lord Restores the Land
18 Then the Lord became concerned about his land.
He felt sorry for his people.
19 The Lord said to them:
“I will send you grain, wine and olive oil.
You will have plenty.
No more will I shame you
among the nations.
20 I will force the army from the north to leave your land.
I will force them into a dry, empty land.
Their soldiers in front will be forced into the Dead Sea.
And those in the rear will be forced into the Mediterranean Sea.
Their bodies will rot and stink
because they did horrible things.”
21 But, land, don’t be afraid.
Be happy and full of joy
because the Lord has begun to do wonderful things.
22 Wild animals, don’t be afraid.
The open pastures will grow grass.
The trees will grow fruit.
The fig trees and the vines will grow much fruit.
Mary Praises God
46 Then Mary said,
“My soul praises the Lord;
47 my heart is happy because God is my Savior.
48 I am not important, but God has shown his care for me, his servant girl.
From now on, all people will say that I am blessed,
49 because the Powerful One has done great things for me.
His name is holy.
50 God will always give mercy
to those who worship him.
51 God’s arm is strong.
He scatters the people who are proud
and think great things about themselves.
52 God brings down rulers from their thrones,
and he raises up the humble.
53 God fills the hungry with good things,
but he sends the rich away with nothing.
54 God has helped his people Israel who serve him.
He gave them his mercy.
55 God has done what he promised to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his children forever.”
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.