Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
To the Director: Upon machalath.[a] A Davidic instruction.[b]
The Fool and God’s Response
53 Fools say to themselves “There is no God.”
They are corrupt and commit iniquity;
not one of them practices what is good.
2 God looks down from the heavens upon humanity[c]
to see if anyone shows discernment as he searches for God.
3 All of them[d] have fallen away;
together they have become corrupt;
no one does what is good, not even one.
4 Will those who do evil ever learn?
They devour my people like they devour bread,
and never call on God.
5 There the Israelis[e] were seized with terror,
when there was nothing to fear.
For God scattered the bones of those who laid siege against you[f]—
you put them to shame,[g]
for God rejected them.
6 Would that Israel’s deliverance come out of Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad.[h]
Day of Atonement
26 The Lord spoke to Moses, 27 “However, on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It’s a sacred assembly for you. Humble yourselves[a] and bring an offering made by fire to the Lord. 28 You are not to do any work that same day. It’s the Day of Atonement, because your atonement is made in the presence of the Lord your God. 29 Anyone who doesn’t humble himself that same day is to be eliminated from contact with his people.[b] 30 I’ll eliminate anyone who does work that day from among his people. 31 You are not to do any work. This is to be an eternal ordinance throughout your generations, wherever you live. 32 It’s a Sabbath of rest[c] for you on which you are to humble yourselves starting the evening of the ninth day of the month. You are to observe your Sabbath from evening to evening.”
Festival of Tents
33 The Lord spoke to Moses, 34 “Tell the Israelis that starting the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the week-long Festival of Tents to the Lord. 35 On the first day, you are to hold a sacred assembly, when you are not to do any servile work. 36 For seven days, bring offerings made by fire to the Lord. The eighth day is also to be a sacred assembly for you. Bring offerings made by fire to the Lord. It’s a sacred assembly. You are not to do any servile work.
37 “These are the Lord’s appointed festivals that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. Bring offerings made by fire to the Lord—a whole burnt offering, a meal offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings. Do this every day on its assigned date 38 in addition to the Lord’s Sabbath—regarding your gifts, your offerings in fulfillment of vows, and your freely given offerings that you will bring to the Lord.
39 “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you’ve harvested the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of the Lord for seven days. The first day is to be a Sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is to be a Sabbath rest.
40 “On the first day, take branches from impressive fruit trees,[d] branches from palm trees, boughs from thick trees, and poplars from the brooks. Then you are to rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God for seven days. 41 Observe it as a pilgrimage festival in the presence of the Lord for seven days of the year. This is to be an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. Observe the festival during the seventh month.
The Vision of Worship
19 After these things, I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a large crowd in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God.
2 His judgments are true and just.
He has condemned the notorious prostitute
who corrupted the world with her immorality.
He has taken revenge on her
for the blood of his servants.”
3 A second time they said,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.”
4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures bowed down and worshipped God, who was sitting on the throne. They said, “Amen! Hallelujah!” 5 A voice came from the throne, saying,
“Praise our God,
all who serve and fear him,
from the least important
to the most important.”
The Vision of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
6 Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a large crowd, like the sound of raging waters, and like the sound of powerful thunderclaps, saying,
“Hallelujah!
The Lord our God, the Almighty, is reigning.
7 Let us rejoice, be glad, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the lamb has come
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 She has been given the privilege of wearing fine linen,
dazzling and pure.”
(The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints.)
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