Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹² But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;^(A)
    your renown endures^(B) through all generations.^(C)
13 You will arise^(D) and have compassion^(E) on Zion,
    for it is time^(F) to show favor^(G) to her;
    the appointed time^(H) has come.
¹⁴ For her stones are dear to your servants;
    her very dust moves them to pity.
¹⁵ The nations will fear^(I) the name of the Lord,
    all the kings^(J) of the earth will revere your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord will rebuild Zion^(K)
    and appear in his glory.^(L)
17 He will respond to the prayer^(M) of the destitute;
    he will not despise their plea.

¹⁸ Let this be written^(N) for a future generation,
    that a people not yet created^(O) may praise the Lord:
¹⁹ “The Lord looked down^(P) from his sanctuary on high,
    from heaven he viewed the earth,
²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners^(Q)
    and release those condemned to death.”
²¹ So the name of the Lord will be declared^(R) in Zion
    and his praise^(S) in Jerusalem
²² when the peoples and the kingdoms
    assemble to worship^(T) the Lord.

²³ In the course of my life^[a] he broke my strength;
    he cut short my days.^(U)
24 So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
    your years go on^(V) through all generations.
²⁵ In the beginning^(W) you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens^(X) are the work of your hands.^(Y)
26 They will perish,^(Z) but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
    and they will be discarded.
²⁷ But you remain the same,^(AA)
    and your years will never end.^(AB)
28 The children of your servants^(AC) will live in your presence;
    their descendants^(AD) will be established before you.”

² “If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!^(A)
3 It would surely outweigh the sand^(B) of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous.^(C)
4 The arrows^(D) of the Almighty^(E) are in me,^(F)
    my spirit drinks^(G) in their poison;^(H)
    God’s terrors^(I) are marshaled against me.^(J)
5 Does a wild donkey^(K) bray^(L) when it has grass,
    or an ox bellow when it has fodder?^(M)
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow^[a]?^(N)
7 I refuse to touch it;
    such food makes me ill.^(O)

⁸ “Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,^(P)
9 that God would be willing to crush^(Q) me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life!^(R)
10 Then I would still have this consolation^(S)—
    my joy in unrelenting pain^(T)—
    that I had not denied the words^(U) of the Holy One.^(V)

¹¹ “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
    What prospects, that I should be patient?^(W)
12 Do I have the strength of stone?
    Is my flesh bronze?^(X)
13 Do I have any power to help myself,^(Y)
    now that success has been driven from me?