Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

²³ Be glad then, you children of Zion! And rejoice in the LORD your God! For He has given you the rain of righteousness. And He will cause the rain to come down for you, the first rain and the latter rain, in the first month.

²⁴ And the barns shall be full of wheat. And the presses shall abound with wine and oil.

²⁵ “And I will render you the years that the locust has eaten — the creeping locust and the consuming locust and the chewing locust — My great host which I sent among you.

²⁶ “So you shall eat and be satisfied and praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt separately with you. And My people shall never be ashamed.

²⁷ “You shall also know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and no other. And My people shall never be ashamed.

²⁸ “And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your old men shall dream dreams. Your young men shall see visions.

²⁹ “And I will also pour My Spirit upon the servants, and upon the maids in those days.

³⁰ “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the Earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke.

³¹ “The Sun shall be turned into darkness, and the Moon into blood, before the great and awesome Day of the LORD comes.

³² “But whoever shall call on the Name of the LORD shall be saved. For deliverance shall be on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the LORD has said, and in the Remnant whom the LORD shall call.”

65 O God, praise waits for You in Zion; and to You shall the vow be performed.

² O, You Who hear prayer, to You shall all flesh come!

³ Wicked deeds have prevailed against me. But You will be merciful to our transgressions.

⁴ Blessed is he whom You choose and cause to come. He shall dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the pleasures of Your House, and of Your Holy Temple.

⁵ O God of our salvation, You will answer us with fearful signs in Your righteousness. You are the hope of all the ends of the Earth, and of those who are far off in the sea.

⁶ He establishes the mountains by His power, being clothed with strength.

⁷ He appeases the noise of the seas, and the noise of the waves thereof, and the tumults of the people.

⁸ Also, those who dwell in the uttermost parts shall be afraid of Your signs. You shall make the outgoings of the morning and the evening rejoice.

⁹ You visit the Earth and water it. You make it very rich. The river of God is full of water. You prepare their grain, for so You have appointed it.

¹⁰ You water the furrows thereof abundantly. You cause the rain to descend into the valleys thereof. You make it soft with showers and bless the bud thereof.

¹¹ You crown the year with Your goodness; and Your steps drop fatness.

¹² They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; and the hills shall be surrounded with gladness.

¹³ The pastures are clad with sheep. The valleys, also, shall be covered with grain. They shout for joy and sing. To him who excels: A song or psalm

⁶ For I am already being offered. And the time of my departing is at hand.

⁷ I have fought the good fight and have finished my course. I have kept the faith.

⁸ Hereafter, the crown of righteousness - which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me on that Day - is laid up for me. And not only to me but also to all those who love His appearing.

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one stood by me. But, all deserted me. May it not be counted against them.

¹⁷ But the Lord assisted me and strengthened me; so that by me the preaching might be fully believed, and that all the Gentiles should hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

¹⁸ And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for His Heavenly Kingdom. To Him be praise for ever and ever! Amen.

⁹ He also spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves (that they were just) and despised others.

¹⁰ “Two men went up into the Temple to pray - the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

¹¹ “The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘O God, I thank You that I am not as other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers - or even as this tax collector.

¹² ‘I fast twice a week. I give tithe of all that ever I possess.’

¹³ “But the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not lift up so much as his eyes to Heaven. But he struck his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’

¹⁴ “I tell you, this man departed to his house more justified than the other. For everyone who exalts himself shall be brought low. And the one who humbles himself shall be exalted.”