Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

126 Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.

² It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his beloved,

³ Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb.

⁴ As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken.

⁵ Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate.

¹⁸ In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt, speaking the language of Chanaan, and swearing by the Lord of hosts: one shall be called the city of the sun.

¹⁹ In that day there shall be an altar of the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a monument of the Lord at the borders thereof:

²⁰ It shall be for a sign, and for a testimony to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. For they shall cry to the Lord because of the oppressor, and he shall send them a Saviour and a defender to deliver them.

²¹ And the Lord shall be known by Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall worship him with sacrifices and offerings: and they shall make vows to the Lord, and perform them.

²² And the Lord shall strike Egypt with a scourge, and shall heal it, and they shall return to the Lord, and he shall be pacified towards them, and heal them.

²³ In that day there shall be a way from Egypt to the Assyrians, and the Assyrian shall enter into Egypt, and the Egyptian to the Assyrians, and the Egyptians shall serve the Assyrian.

²⁴ In that day shall Israel be the third to the Egyptian and the Assyrian: a blessing in the midst of the land,

²⁵ Which the Lord of hosts hath blessed, saying: Blessed be my people of Egypt, and the work of my hands to the Assyrian: but Israel is my inheritance.

² Grace to you and peace be accomplished in the knowledge of God and of Christ Jesus our Lord:

³ As all things of his divine power which appertain to life and godliness, are given us, through the knowledge of him who hath called us by his own proper glory and virtue.

⁴ By whom he hath given us most great and precious promises: that by these you may be made partakers of the divine nature: flying the corruption of that concupiscence which is in the world.

⁵ And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue; and in virtue, knowledge;

⁶ And in knowledge, abstinence; and in abstinence, patience; and in patience, godliness;

⁷ And in godliness, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity.

⁸ For if these things be with you and abound, they will make you to be neither empty nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ For he that hath not these things with him, is blind, and groping, having forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

¹⁰ Wherefore, brethren, labour the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election. For doing these things, you shall not sin at any time.

¹¹ For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

¹² For which cause I will begin to put you always in remembrance of these things: though indeed you know them, and are confirmed in the present truth.

¹³ But I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.

¹⁴ Being assured that the laying away of this my tabernacle is at hand, according as our Lord Jesus Christ also hath signified to me.

¹⁵ And I will endeavour, that you frequently have after my decease, whereby you may keep a memory of these things.