Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹ Praise waits for you,^[a] O God, in Zion.
To you vows will be fulfilled.
² You who hear prayer, to you all mortals^[b] will come.

³ The record of my guilt overpowered me.
You atone for our rebellious acts.
⁴ How blessed is the one you choose and bring near!
He will dwell in your courtyards.
We will be satisfied by the goodness of your house,
by the holiness of your temple.

⁵ In righteousness you answer us with awesome deeds,
    O God who saves us.
He is trusted by all the farthest ends of the earth and the sea.
⁶ He establishes the mountains by his power.
He has wrapped himself with strength.
⁷ He stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the peoples.

⁹ You visit the earth and water it.
You make it very rich.
God’s stream is filled with water.
You provide grain for them, just as you planned.
¹⁰ You drench the land’s furrows. You flatten its plowed ground.
You soften it with showers. You bless its crops.
¹¹ You crown the year with your goodness.
The tracks made by your carts overflow with riches.^[c]
12 The pastures of the wilderness drip.
The hills are wrapped with joy.
¹³ The meadows are clothed with flocks.
The valleys are dressed with grain.
They shout for joy. Yes! They sing.

¹² Even now, declares the Lord,
    return to me with all your heart,
    with fasting and weeping and grief.
¹³ Tear your heart and not your clothing.
    Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and abounding in mercy,
    and he relents from sending disaster.
¹⁴ Who knows?
    He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing—
    grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.
¹⁵ Blow the ram’s horn in Zion.
    Set aside a day for fasting.
    Call a solemn convocation.
¹⁶ Gather the people.
    Consecrate the assembly.
    Bring together the elders.
    Gather the children, even those nursing at the breast.
    Let the bridegroom leave his room,
    and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
    weep between the temple porch and the altar.
    Let them say:
        Have compassion on your people, O Lord.
        Do not subject the inheritance you have given us to the scorn of the nations.
        Do not make us notorious among the nations as an object of ridicule.^[a]
        Why should they say among the peoples,
        “Where is their God?”

¹⁸ The Lord is zealous for his land,
    and he will take pity on his people.
¹⁹ The Lord will respond to them:
        I am sending you grain, new wine, and fresh oil,
        enough to satisfy you fully.
        Never again will I subject you to scorn among the nations.
²⁰         I will drive the northern invaders far from you,
        pushing them into a parched and desolate land.
        Their vanguard will be driven into the eastern sea^[b]
        and their rearguard into the western sea.^[c]
        Then their stench will go up. Their foul smell will go up.

    Yes, the Lord^[d] has done great things.
²¹ Do not be afraid, O earth.
    Celebrate and be glad.
    Yes, the Lord has done great things.
²² Do not be afraid, you animals out in the field,
    because the grazing lands are becoming green.
    The trees are bearing their fruit.
    The fig tree and the vine yield their riches.