Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

40 ¶ Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

² Speak ye according to the heart of Jerusalem and cry unto her that her time is now fulfilled that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.

³ ¶ The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

⁴ Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places made plain:

⁵ And the glory of the LORD shall be manifested, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.

⁶ The voice that said, Cry. And I said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the mercy thereof is as the open flower of the field:

⁷ The grass withers, the flower fades because the spirit of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people is grass.

⁸ The grass withers, the open flower fades; but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

⁹ ¶ O Zion, that brings good tidings, go up into the high mountain; lift up thy voice with strength O bearer of good tidings of Jerusalem; lift it up, do not be afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

¹⁰ Behold, the Lord GOD will come with a strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

¹¹ He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young.

To the Overcomer, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.

¹ ¶ LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land; thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

² Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people; thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

⁸ ¶ I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints, that they not turn again to folly.

⁹ Surely his saving health is near those that fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.

¹⁰ Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

¹¹ Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from the heavens.

¹² The LORD shall give that which is good, and our land shall bring forth her fruit.

¹³ Righteousness shall go before him and shall set his steps in the way.

⁸ ¶ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day before the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years are as one day.

⁹ ¶ The Lord is not late concerning his promise, as some count lateness, but is patient with us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements, burning, shall be dissolved, and the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up.

¹¹ ¶ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

¹² waiting for and desiring earnestly for the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

¹³ Nevertheless we, according to his promises, wait for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, seeing that ye hope for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.

¹⁵ And have as saving health the patience of our Lord, even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you

1 ¶ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus, the Christ, Son of God,

² as it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

³ The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.

⁴ John baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance for remission of sins.

⁵ And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea and those of Jerusalem and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁶ John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he ate locusts and wild honey

⁷ and preached, saying, There comes one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

⁸ I indeed have baptized you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.