Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Song of degrees.

¹ ¶ When the LORD shall turn again the captivity of Zion, we shall be like those that dream.

² Then our mouth shall be filled with laughter and our tongue with singing; then they shall say among the Gentiles, The LORD has done great things with them.

³ The LORD has done great things with us, of which we shall be glad.

⁴ ¶ Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

⁵ Those that sow with tears shall reap with joy.

⁶ He that goes forth and weeps, bearing the precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

² O LORD, I have heard thy word and was afraid; O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the times; in the midst of the times make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

³ ¶ God shall come from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was filled with his praise.

⁴ And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand; and there was hidden his strength.

⁵ Before his face went mortality, and burning coals went forth from his feet.

⁶ He stood and measured the earth; he beheld and drove out the Gentiles; and the ancient mountains crumbled, the ancient hills; the ways of the world bowed unto him.

¹² Not as though I had already attained it, either were already perfect, but I follow after, if I may lay hold of that for which I have also been laid hold of by the Christ, Jesus.

¹³ Brethren, I do not reckon to have laid hold of it yet, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and extending myself unto those things which are ahead,

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ ¶ Let us, therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded; and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

¹⁶ Nevertheless, in that unto which we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us have the same mind.