Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Restoration from Captivity
30 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Write down on a scroll all the words that I have spoken to you,(A) 3 for the days are certainly coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will restore the fortunes[a] of My people Israel and Judah”(B)—the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore them to the land I gave to their ancestors and they will possess it.”
4 These are the words the Lord spoke to Israel and Judah. 5 Yes, this is what the Lord says:
We have heard a cry of terror,
of dread—there is no peace.
6 Ask and see
whether a male can give birth.
Why then do I see every man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor
and every face turned pale?
7 How awful that day will be!(C)
There will be none like it!(D)
It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,
but he will be delivered out of it.
8 “On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“I will break his yoke from your neck(E) and tear off your chains(F) so strangers will never again enslave him.(G) 9 They will serve the Lord their God and I will raise up David their king for them.”(H)
10 As for you, My servant Jacob,(I)
do not be afraid—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
and do not be dismayed, Israel,
for without fail I will save you from far away,
your descendants, from the land of their captivity!
Jacob will return and have calm and quiet
with no one to frighten him.(J)
11 For I will be with you—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
to save you!(K)
I will bring destruction on all the nations
where I have scattered you;
however, I will not bring destruction on you.
I will discipline you justly,
and I will by no means leave you unpunished.(L)
Healing Zion’s Wounds
12 For this is what the Lord says:
Your injury is incurable;
your wound most severe.(M)
13 No one takes up the case for your sores.(N)
There is no healing for you.
14 All your lovers have forgotten you;
they no longer look for you,
for I have struck you as an enemy would,
with the discipline(O) of someone cruel,(P)
because of your enormous guilt
and your innumerable sins.
15 Why do you cry out about your injury?
Your pain has no cure!
I have done these things to you
because of your enormous guilt
and your innumerable sins.
16 Nevertheless, all who devoured you will be devoured,(Q)
and all your adversaries—all of them—
will go off into exile.
Those who plunder you will be plundered,
and all who raid you will be raided.
17 But I will bring you health(R)
and will heal you of your wounds—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
for they call you Outcast,
Zion whom no one cares about.
5 Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words[a] are faithful and true.”(A) 6 And He said to me, “It is done!(B) I am the Alpha and the Omega,(C) the Beginning and the End.(D) I will give water as a gift to the thirsty(E) from the spring of life.(F) 7 The victor(G) will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.(H) 8 But the cowards, unbelievers,[b] vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,(I) which is the second death.”
The New Jerusalem
9 Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues,(J) came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 He then carried me away in the Spirit[c](K) to a great and high mountain(L) and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 arrayed with God’s glory.(M) Her radiance was like a very precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal. 12 The city had a massive high wall, with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the 12 tribes of Israel’s sons were inscribed on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.(N) 14 The city wall had 12 foundations, and the 12 names of the Lamb’s 12 apostles were on the foundations.
15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod(O) to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.(P) 16 The city is laid out in a square; its length and width are the same. He measured the city with the rod at 12,000 stadia.[d] Its length, width, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which the angel used. 18 The building material of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold like clear glass.
19 The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone:(Q)
the first foundation jasper,
the second sapphire,
the third chalcedony,
the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx,
the sixth carnelian,
the seventh chrysolite,
the eighth beryl,
the ninth topaz,
the tenth chrysoprase,
the eleventh jacinth,
the twelfth amethyst.
21 The 12 gates are 12 pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The broad street[e] of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.(R) 24 The nations[f] will walk in its light,(S) and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.[g](T) 25 Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. 26 They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.[h](U) 27 Nothing profane will ever enter it:(V) no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.(W)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.