Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 102[a]
The prayer of an oppressed man, as he grows faint and pours out his lament before the Lord.
102 O Lord, hear my prayer.
Pay attention to my cry for help.[b]
2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble.[c]
Listen to me.[d]
When I call out to you, quickly answer me.
3 For my days go up in smoke,[e]
and my bones are charred as in a fireplace.[f]
4 My heart is parched[g] and withered like grass,
for I am unable[h] to eat food.[i]
5 Because of the anxiety that makes me groan,
my bones protrude from my skin.[j]
6 I am like an owl[k] in the wilderness;
I am like a screech owl[l] among the ruins.[m]
7 I stay awake;[n]
I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who mock me use my name in their curses.[o]
9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread,[p]
and mix my drink with my tears,[q]
10 because of your anger and raging fury.
Indeed,[r] you pick me up and throw me away.
11 My days are coming to an end,[s]
and I am withered like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, rule forever,[t]
and your reputation endures.[u]
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion.[v]
For it is time to have mercy on her,
for the appointed time has come.
14 Indeed,[w] your servants take delight in her stones,
and feel compassion for[x] the dust of her ruins.[y]
15 The nations will respect the reputation of the Lord,[z]
and all the kings of the earth will respect[aa] his splendor,
16 when the Lord rebuilds Zion,
and reveals his splendor,
17 when he responds to the prayer of the destitute,[ab]
and does not reject[ac] their request.[ad]
8 “For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,[a] says, ‘Do not let the prophets among you or those who claim to be able to predict the future by divination[b] deceive you. And do not pay any attention to the dreams that you are encouraging them to dream. 9 They are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so.[c] But I did not send them. I, the Lord, affirm it!’[d]
10 “For the Lord says, ‘Only when the seventy years of Babylonian rule[e] are over will I again take up consideration for you.[f] Then I will fulfill my gracious promise to you and restore[g] you to your homeland.[h] 11 For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord.[i] ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you[j] a future filled with hope.[k] 12 When you call out to me and come to me in prayer,[l] I will hear your prayers.[m] 13 When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul,[n] 14 I will make myself available to you,’[o] says the Lord.[p] ‘Then I will reverse your plight[q] and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,’ says the Lord.[r] ‘I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’
15 “You say, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets of good news[s] for us here in Babylon.’ 16 But just listen to what the Lord has to say about[t] the king who occupies David’s throne and all your fellow countrymen who are still living in this city of Jerusalem[u] and were not carried off into exile with you. 17 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies[v] says, ‘I will bring war,[w] starvation, and disease on them. I will treat them like figs that are so rotten[x] they cannot be eaten. 18 I will chase after them with war,[y] starvation, and disease. I will make all the kingdoms of the earth horrified at what happens to them. I will make them examples of those who are cursed, objects of horror, hissing scorn, and ridicule among all the nations where I exile them. 19 For they have not paid attention to what I said to them through my servants the prophets whom I sent to them over and over again,’[z] says the Lord.[aa] ‘And you exiles[ab] have not paid any attention to them either,’ says the Lord.[ac] 20 ‘So pay attention to the Lord’s message,[ad] all you exiles whom I have sent to Babylon from Jerusalem.’
21 “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,[ae] also has something to say about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so.[af] ‘I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and he will execute them before your very eyes. 22 And all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will use them as examples when they put a curse on anyone. They will say, “May the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab whom the king of Babylon roasted to death in the fire!”[ag] 23 This will happen to them because they have done what is shameful[ah] in Israel. They have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and have spoken lies while claiming my authority.[ai] They have spoken words that I did not command them to speak. I know what they have done. I have been a witness to it,’ says the Lord.”[aj]
24 As Paul[a] was saying these things in his defense, Festus[b] exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind,[c] Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!” 25 But Paul replied,[d] “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus,[e] but am speaking[f] true and rational[g] words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and I am speaking freely[h] to him,[i] because I cannot believe[j] that any of these things has escaped his notice,[k] for this was not done in a corner.[l] 27 Do you believe the prophets,[m] King Agrippa?[n] I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa[o] said to Paul, “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?”[p] 29 Paul replied, “I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time[q] not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.”[r]
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