Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹ Turn Your ear toward us, Shepherd of Israel,
    You who lead the children of Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned above heaven’s winged creatures,^[b]
    radiate Your light!
² In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
    arouse Your strength and power,
    and save us!

³ Bring us back to You, God.
    Turn the light of Your face upon us so that we will be rescued from this sea of darkness.

⁴ O Eternal God, Commander of heaven’s armies,
    how long will You remain angry at the prayers of Your sons and daughters?
⁵ You have given them tears for food;
    You have given them an abundance of tears to drink.
⁶ You have made us a source of trouble for our neighbors—
    our enemies laugh to each other behind our backs.
⁷ O God, Commander of heaven’s armies, bring us back to You.
    Turn the light of Your face upon us so that we will be rescued from this sea of darkness.

⁸ You took us like a grapevine dug from the soil of Egypt;
    You forced out the nations and transplanted it in Your land.
⁹ You groomed the ground around it,
    planted it so it would root deep into the earth, and it covered all the land.
¹⁰ As it grew, the mountains were blanketed by its shadow;
    the mighty cedars were covered by its branches.
¹¹ The plant extended its branches to the Mediterranean Sea,
    and spread its shoots all the way to the Euphrates River.
¹² God, why have You pulled down the wall that protected it
    so that everyone who wanders by can pick its sweet grapes?
¹³ The wild boar of the forest eats it all,
    and the creatures of the field feast upon it.

¹⁴ O God, Commander of heaven’s armies, come back to us.
    Gaze down from heaven and see what has happened.
Keep watch over this vine, and nourish it.
¹⁵ Look after the saplings which You planted with Your own right hand,
    the child whom You have raised and nurtured for Yourself.
¹⁶ Your enemies have chopped it down and burned it with fire;
    may they be destroyed by the sight of Your rebuke.
¹⁷ Let Your protective hand rest on the one who is at Your right hand,
    the child of man whom You have raised and nurtured for Yourself.
¹⁸ Then we will not turn away from You.
    Bring us back to life! And we will call out for You!

¹⁹ O Eternal God, Commander of heaven’s armies, bring us back to You.
    Turn the light of Your face upon us so that we will be rescued from this sea of darkness.

¹⁷ Eternal One: Now look here!
        I am creating new heavens and a new earth.
    The weary and painful past will be as if it never happened.
        No one will talk or even think about it anymore.
¹⁸     So take joy and celebrate with unending gladness
        on account of what I am creating.
    Look carefully! I am making this place I’ve chosen, this Jerusalem, a city of joy.
        I’m making her citizens, My people, a people of gladness.
¹⁹     This Jerusalem, My pride and joy, and her people will be a delight to Me.
        Though you listen at every corner,
    You will never hear crying, never hear despair or grief.

²⁰     Never again will a person not live a full life,
        for the young will live to be a hundred
    And any who die earlier will be considered cursed.

²¹     People will confidently build houses and make them their homes;
        they will plant vineyards and enjoy their fruit for years to come.
²²     They won’t worry that someone else will come along, drive them out,
        and take it all away.
    For My people will live as long as these age-old trees;
        My chosen will use up and wear out whatever they make.
²³     They will not work hard for what others take away;
        they will not lose children to sudden terror and death.
    For they are the offspring of those blessed by the Eternal;
        they and their descendants will enjoy God’s blessings.
²⁴     I’ll anticipate their prayers and respond before they know it;
        even as they speak, I will hear.
²⁵     But they’ll all eat together like friends—wolf and lamb, lion and ox,
        and the biting snake will feed on dust.
    When that day arrives, there will be no evil, no violence, no hurt or wrong
        in all My sacred mountain.