Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 129
Protection of the Oppressed
A song of ascents.
1 Since my youth they have often attacked me—
let Israel say—
2 Since my youth they have often attacked me,
but they have not prevailed against me.(A)
3 Plowmen plowed over my back;
they made their furrows long.(B)
4 The Lord is righteous;
He has cut the ropes of the wicked.(C)
5 Let all who hate Zion
be driven back in disgrace.(D)
6 Let them be like grass on the rooftops,
which withers before it grows up[a](E)
7 and can’t even fill the hands of the reaper
or the arms of the one who binds sheaves.(F)
8 Then none who pass by will say,
“May the Lord’s blessing be on you.”
We bless you in the name of Yahweh.(G)
Prophecies against Babylon
50 The word the Lord spoke about Babylon,(A) the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet:
2 Announce to the nations;
proclaim and raise up a signal flag;(B)
proclaim, and hide nothing.
Say: Babylon is captured;
Bel(C) is put to shame;
Marduk is devastated;
her idols are put to shame;
her false gods, devastated.
3 For a nation from the north will come against her;(D)
it will make her land desolate.
No one will be living in it—
both man and beast will escape.[a]
4 In those days and at that time—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
the Israelites and Judeans will come together,
weeping as they come,
and will seek the Lord their God.(E)
5 They will ask about Zion,
turning their faces to this road.
They will come and join themselves[b] to the Lord
in an everlasting covenant(F) that will never be forgotten.
6 My people are lost sheep;(G)
their shepherds have led them astray,
guiding them the wrong way in the mountains.(H)
They have wandered from mountain to hill;
they have forgotten their resting place.
7 All who found them devoured them.
Their adversaries said, “We’re not guilty;
instead, they have sinned against the Lord,
their righteous grazing land,(I)
the hope of their ancestors,(J) the Lord.”
The Return of God’s People
17 Israel is a stray lamb, chased by lions.(A)
The first who devoured him was the king of Assyria;
the last one who crushed his bones
was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.(B)
18 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to punish the king of Babylon(C) and his land just as I punished the king of Assyria.
19 I will return Israel to his grazing land,
and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan;
he will be satisfied
in the hill country of Ephraim and of Gilead.(D)
20 In those days and at that time—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
one will search for Israel’s guilt,
but there will be none,
and for Judah’s sins,
but they will not be found,
for I will forgive(E) those I leave as a remnant.(F)
The Prayer in the Garden
39 He went out and made His way(A) as usual(B) to the Mount of Olives,(C) and the disciples followed Him. 40 When He reached the place,(D) He told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”(E) 41 Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray,(F) 42 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup(G) away from Me—nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”
[43 Then an angel from heaven(H) appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 Being in anguish,(I) He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.][a] 45 When He got up from prayer and came to the disciples, He found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief.[b] 46 “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation.”
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