Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
104 I will praise the Lord.
Lord my God, you are very great.
You are dressed in glory and majesty.
2 The Lord wraps himself in light as if it were a robe.
He spreads out the heavens like a tent.
3 He builds his palace high in the heavens.
He makes the clouds serve as his chariot.
He rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes the winds serve as his messengers.
He makes flashes of lightning serve him.
5 He placed the earth on its foundations.
It can never be moved.
6 You, Lord, covered it with the oceans like a blanket.
The waters covered the mountains.
7 But you commanded the waters, and they ran away.
At the sound of your thunder they rushed off.
8 They flowed down the mountains.
They went into the valleys.
They went to the place you appointed for them.
9 You drew a line they can’t cross.
They will never cover the earth again.
24 Lord, you have made so many things!
How wise you were when you made all of them!
The earth is full of your creatures.
35 But may sinners be gone from the earth.
May evil people disappear.
I will praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
37 “When I hear the thunder, my heart pounds.
It beats faster inside me.
2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice!
Listen to the thunder that comes from him!
3 He sends his lightning across the sky.
It reaches from one end of the earth to the other.
4 Next comes the sound of his roaring thunder.
He thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice fills the air,
he doesn’t hold anything back.
5 God’s voice thunders in wonderful ways.
We’ll never understand the great things he does.
6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth.’
He tells the rain, ‘Pour down your mighty waters.’
7 He stops everyone from working.
He wants them to see his work.
8 The animals go inside.
They remain in their dens.
9 The storm comes out of its storeroom in the heavens.
The cold comes from the driving winds.
10 The breath of God produces ice.
The shallow water freezes over.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture.
He scatters his lightning through them.
12 He directs the clouds to circle
above the surface of the whole earth.
They do everything he commands them to do.
13 He tells the clouds to punish people.
Or he brings them to water his earth and show his love.
14 “Job, listen to me.
Stop and think about the wonderful things God does.
15 Do you know how he controls the clouds?
Do you understand how he makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds stay up in the sky?
Do you understand the wonders of the God who has perfect knowledge?
17 Even your clothes are too hot for you
when the land lies quiet under the south wind.
18 Can you help God spread out the skies?
They are as hard as a mirror
that’s made out of bronze.
19 “Job, tell us what we should say to God.
We can’t prepare our case
because our minds are dark.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be destroyed by him?
21 No one can look at the sun.
It’s too bright after the wind has swept the skies clean.
22 Out of the north, God comes in his shining glory.
He comes in all his wonderful majesty.
23 We can’t reach up to the Mighty One.
He is lifted high because of his power.
Everything he does is fair and right.
So he doesn’t crush people.
24 That’s why they have respect for him.
He cares about all those who are wise.”
Babylon the Great Prostitute Sits on the Beast
17 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came to me. He said, “Come. I will show you how the great prostitute will be punished. She is the one who sits by many waters. 2 The kings of the earth took part in her evil ways. The people living on earth were drunk with the wine of her terrible sins.”
3 Then in a vision the angel carried me away to a desert. There the Holy Spirit showed me a woman sitting on a bright red beast. It was covered with names that say evil things about God. It had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and bright red. She was gleaming with gold, jewels and pearls. In her hand she held a golden cup filled with things that God hates. It was filled with her terrible, dirty sins. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery. Here is what it said.
The Great City of Babylon
The Mother of Prostitutes
The Mother of Everything on Earth that God Hates
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people. They are the ones who are witnesses about Jesus.
When I saw her, I was very amazed. 7 Then the angel said to me, “Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman. And I will explain the mystery of the beast she rides on. The beast is the one who has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw used to exist and now does not. Yet it will come up out of the Abyss and be destroyed. Some people on the earth will be amazed when they see the beast. Their names have not been written in the book of life from the time the world was created. They will be amazed at the beast. That’s because it will come again even though it used to exist and now does not.
9 “Here is a problem that you have to be wise to understand. The seven heads are seven hills that the woman sits on. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is ruling, and the other has still not come. When he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who used to exist, and now does not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the other seven. He will be destroyed.
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings. They have not yet received a kingdom. But for one hour they will receive authority to rule together with the beast. 13 They have only one purpose. So they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will have victory over them. That’s because he is the most powerful Lord of all and the greatest King of all. His appointed, chosen and faithful followers will be with him.”
15 Then the angel spoke to me. “You saw the waters the prostitute sits on,” he said. “They stand for all the nations of the world, no matter what their race or language is. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will destroy her and leave her naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose. So they agreed to give the beast their royal authority. They will give him this authority until God’s words come true. 18 The woman you saw stands for the great city of Babylon. That city rules over the kings of the earth.”
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