Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A Song of Ascents
A Prayer for Mercy
130 I cry to you from the depths, Lord,
2 Lord, listen to my voice;
let your ears pay attention
to what I ask of you![a]
3 Lord,[b] if you were to record iniquities,
Lord, who could remain standing?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord;
my soul waits,
and I will hope in his word.
6 My soul looks to the Lord
more than watchmen look for the morning—
more, indeed, than[c] watchmen for the morning.
7 Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is gracious love,
along with abundant redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all its sins.
8 But you mountains of Israel are going to sprout branches and bear fruit for my people Israel, because they’ll be coming soon.’”
The Future of Israel’s Mountains
9 “Watch me! I’m on your side! I’ll be turning in your direction, and you mountains[a] will be plowed and planted. 10 I’m going to make the entire house of Israel grow—every single member[b]—and their cities will be inhabited with all the ruins rebuilt. 11 I’ll make both the population and the livestock increase throughout your territories. They’ll increase and be fruitful. I’ll make your territories to be settled like you were in the past, and you will be treated better than you ever were before. At that time you will know that I am the Lord.
12 “I’ll lead my people, my nation of Israel, across you mountains,[c] and they will take possession of you again, and you’ll be their inheritance once more. Never again will you leave them robbed of children.
13 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because some have been saying to you, “You mountains[d] have been devouring human beings and leaving people childless,” 14 therefore you will no longer devour human beings or leave their nation childless,’ declares the Lord God. 15 ‘I won’t let you hear other people mock you, and no nation will ever make you childless again,’ declares the Lord God.”
44 Then he told them, “These are the words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.”
45 Then he opened their minds so that they might understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is how it is written: the Messiah[a] was to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and then repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am sending to you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Jesus is Taken up to Heaven(A)
50 Later, he led them out as far as Bethany, lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.[b] 52 They worshipped him and[c] returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 They were continually in the Temple, blessing[d] God.[e]
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