Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 102
Affliction in light of Eternity
A prayer of a suffering person who is weak and pours out his lament before the Lord.(A)
1 Lord, hear my prayer;
let my cry for help come before you.(B)
2 Do not hide your face from me in my day of trouble.
Listen closely to me;
answer me quickly when I call.(C)
3 For my days vanish like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.(D)
4 My heart is suffering, withered like grass;(E)
I even forget to eat my food.(F)
5 Because of the sound of my groaning,
my flesh sticks to my bones.(G)
6 I am like an eagle owl,
like a little owl among the ruins.(H)
7 I stay awake;(I)
I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
8 My enemies taunt me all day long;
they ridicule and use my name as a curse.(J)
9 I eat ashes like bread
and mingle my drinks with tears(K)
10 because of your indignation and wrath;
for you have picked me up and thrown me aside.(L)
11 My days are like a lengthening shadow,
and I wither away like grass.(M)
24 To Shemaiah the Nehelamite you are to say, 25 “This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: You[a] in your own name have sent out letters to all the people of Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah(A) son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests, saying, 26 ‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of the priest Jehoiada to be the chief officer(B) in the temple of the Lord, responsible for every madman(C) who acts like a prophet. You must confine him in the stocks(D) and an iron collar. 27 So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who has been acting like a prophet among you?(E) 28 For he has sent word to us in Babylon, claiming, “The exile will be long. Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.”’” (F)
29 The priest Zephaniah read this letter in the hearing of the prophet Jeremiah.
A Message about Shemaiah
30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send a message to all the exiles, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah prophesied to you, though I did not send him, and made you trust a lie,(G) 32 this is what the Lord says: I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. There will not be even one of his descendants living among these people,(H) nor will any ever see the good that I will bring to my people—this is the Lord’s declaration—for he has preached rebellion against the Lord.’”(I)
Christian Warfare
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.(A) 11 Put on(B) the full armor(C) of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh(D) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,(E) against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil,(F) spiritual forces in the heavens.(G) 13 For this reason take up the full armor(H) of God, so that you may be able to resist(I) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,(J) therefore, with truth(K) like a belt around your waist, righteousness(L) like armor on your chest,(M) 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield(N) of faith(O) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(P) 17 Take the helmet(Q) of salvation and the sword(R) of the Spirit(S)—which is the word of God. 18 Pray(T) at all times in the Spirit(U) with every prayer and request, and stay alert(V) with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness(W) the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador(X) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
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