Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

137 We sat by the rivers of Babel; and there we wept when we remembered Zion.

² We hung our harps upon the willows, in the midst thereof.

³ Those who led us into captivity required songs and glee from us when we had hung up our harps, saying, “Sing us the songs of Zion!”

⁴ How shall we sing a song of the LORD in a strange land?

⁵ If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget,

⁶ if I do not remember you. Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not prefer Jerusalem to my chief joy.

⁷ Remember the children of Edom, O LORD, on the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it! Raze it to the foundation thereof!”

⁸ O Daughter of Babel, worthy to be destroyed. Blessed is he who rewards you as you have served us.

⁹ Blessed is he who takes and dashes your children against the stones. A Psalm of David

¹³ How shall I witness to you? To what thing shall I compare you, O daughter Jerusalem? What shall I compare to you, so that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter Zion? For your breach is great, like the sea. Who can heal you?

¹⁴ Your prophets have seen empty and foolish things for you. And they have not discovered your iniquity, to turn away your captivity, but have seen false prophecies for you, and causes of banishment.

¹⁵ All who pass by the way, clap their hands at you. They hiss and wag their head upon the daughter Jerusalem, saying, “Is this the city that is called, ‘The perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole Earth?’”

¹⁶ All your enemies have opened their mouth against you. They hiss and gnash the teeth, saying, “Let us devour it! Certainly, this is the day that we looked for! We have found and seen it!”

¹⁷ The LORD has done that which He had purposed. He has fulfilled His Word that He had determined from days of old. He has thrown down, and not spared. He has caused your enemy to rejoice over you, and set up the horn of your adversaries.

¹⁸ Their heart cried to the LORD, “O wall of the daughter Zion! Let tears run down like a river, day and night! Take no rest for yourself or let the apple of your eye cease!

¹⁹ “Arise! Cry in the night! In the beginning of the watches, pour out your heart like water before the face of the LORD. Lift up your hands toward Him for the life of your young children who faint for hunger in the corners of all the streets.”

²⁰ Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom You have done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, nursing children? Shall the Priest and the Prophet be killed in the Sanctuary of the LORD?

²¹ The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets. My virgins and my young men have fallen by the sword. You have killed them on the day of Your wrath. You have killed, and not spared.

²² You have called my terrors, all around, as on a Feast Day; so that on the day of the LORD’s wrath, no one escaped or remained. Those whom I have nourished and brought up my enemy has consumed.

5 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And everyone who loves Him Who begat, also loves him who is begotten of Him.

² In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His Commandments.

³ For this is the love of God: that we keep His Commandments. And His Commandments are not burdensome.

⁴ For all that is born of God overcomes this world. And this is that victory that has overcome this world: our faith.

⁵ Who is it that overcomes this world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life (and that you may believe in the Name of the Son of God).

¹⁴ And this is that assurance that we have in Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have the petitions that we have desired from Him.

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother sin a sin that does not lead to death, let him ask, and He shall give him life for those whose sin does not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death. I do not say that you should pray for that.

¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin. But there is sin that does not lead to death.

¹⁸ We know that whoever is born of God does not sin. But the one who is begotten of God guards himself. And the wicked one does not touch him.

¹⁹ We know that we are of God, and this whole world lies in wickedness.

²⁰ But we know that the Son of God has come and has given us a mind to know Him Who is true. And we are in Him Who is true; in His Son Jesus Christ. The same is that very God and that Eternal Life.

²¹ Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.