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.

¹⁸ ¶ In that day five cities in the land of Egypt shall speak the language of Canaan and swear to the LORD of the hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction.

¹⁹ In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pyramid titled “To the LORD” at the border thereof.

²⁰ And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of the hosts in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a Saviour, and a Prince, and he shall deliver them.

²¹ And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day and shall do sacrifice and oblation; they shall vow vows unto the LORD and perform them.

²² And the LORD shall smite Egypt; he shall smite and heal it because they shall become converted unto the LORD, and he shall grant them clemency and shall heal them.

²³ In that day there shall be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve the LORD with the Assyrians.

²⁴ In that day Israel shall be the third part with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the earth.

²⁵ For the LORD of the hosts shall bless them, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.

² Grace and peace be multiplied unto you in the knowledge of God and of our Lord Jesus,

³ as all things that pertain to life and to godliness are given us of his divine power, through the knowledge of him that has called us by his glory and virtue,

⁴ whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be made participants of the divine nature, having fled the corruption that is in the world through lust.

⁵ ¶ Ye also, giving all diligence to the same, show forth virtue in your faith; and in virtue, knowledge;

⁶ and in knowledge, temperance; and in temperance, patience; and in patience, fear of God;

⁷ and in fear of God, brotherly love; and in brotherly love, charity.

⁸ For if these things are in you and abound, they shall not let you be idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ But he that lacks these things is blind and walks feeling the way with his hand, having forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, give all the more diligence to make your calling and election sure; for doing these things, ye shall never fall.

¹¹ Because in this manner the entrance shall be abundantly administered unto you in the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

¹² ¶ For this reason, I will not leave off reminding you always of these things, although ye know them and are established in the present truth.

¹³ Because I have the right (as long as I am in this tabernacle) to stir you up by reminding you,

¹⁴ knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has declared unto me.

¹⁵ I will also make sure with diligence that after my decease ye might remember these things.