Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.
A Song of Ascents.
126 When the Lord (A)brought back [a]the captive ones of Zion,
We were (B)like those who dream.
2 Then our (C)mouth was filled with laughter
And our (D)tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has (E)done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
We are (F)glad.
13 You went forth for the (A)salvation of Your people,
For the salvation of Your (B)anointed.
You struck the (C)head of the house of the evil
To lay him open from [a]thigh to neck. Selah.
14 You pierced with his (D)own [b]spears
The head of his [c]throngs.
They (E)stormed in to scatter [d]us;
Their exultation was like those
Who (F)devour the oppressed in secret.
15 You (G)trampled on the sea with Your horses,
On the (H)surge of many waters.
16 I heard and my [e]inward parts (I)trembled,
At the sound my lips quivered.
Decay enters my (J)bones,
And in my place I tremble.
Because I must (K)wait quietly for the day of distress,
[f]For the (L)people to arise who will invade us.
17 Though the (M)fig tree should not blossom
And there be no [g]fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the (N)olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the (O)flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be (P)no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will (Q)exult in the Lord,
I will (R)rejoice in the (S)God of my salvation.
19 The Lord [h]God is my (T)strength,
And (U)He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my (V)high places.
For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.
Parable of Two Sons
28 “But what do you think? A man had two [a]sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘[b]Son, go work today in the (A)vineyard.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They *said, “The first.” Jesus *said to them, “Truly I say to you that (B)the tax collectors and prostitutes [c]will get into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but (C)the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.