Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Privileges of Citizenship in Zion.
A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.
87 His (A)foundation is in the holy mountains.
2 The Lord (B)loves the gates of Zion
More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.
3 (C)Glorious things are spoken of you,
O (D)city of God. [a]Selah.
4 “I shall mention [b](E)Rahab and Babylon [c]among those who know Me;
Behold, Philistia and (F)Tyre with [d](G)Ethiopia:
‘This one was born there.’”
5 But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;
And the Most High Himself will (H)establish her.
6 The Lord will count when He (I)registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah.
7 Then those who (J)sing as well as those who [e](K)play the flutes shall say,
“All my (L)springs of joy are in you.”
The Nations Will Be Judged
3 “[a]For behold, (A)in those days and at that time,
When I (B)restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will (C)gather all the nations
And bring them down to the (D)valley of [b]Jehoshaphat.
Then I will (E)enter into judgment with them there
On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel,
Whom they have (F)scattered among the nations;
And they have (G)divided up My land.
3 “They have also (H)cast lots for My people,
[c](I)Traded a boy for a harlot
And sold a girl for wine that they may drink.
4 Moreover, what are you to Me, O (J)Tyre, Sidon and all the regions of (K)Philistia? Are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you do recompense Me, swiftly and speedily I will (L)return your recompense on your head. 5 Since you have (M)taken My silver and My gold, brought My precious [d]treasures to your temples, 6 and sold the (N)sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the [e]Greeks in order to remove them far from their territory, 7 behold, I am going to (O)arouse them from the place where you have sold them, and return your recompense on your head. 8 Also I will (P)sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the sons of Judah, and they will sell them to the (Q)Sabeans, to a distant nation,” for the Lord has spoken.
Share the Sufferings of Christ
12 (A)Beloved, do not be surprised at the (B)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you (C)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the (D)revelation of His glory (E)you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled [a](F)for the name of Christ, (G)you are blessed, (H)because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that (I)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a [b](J)troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a (K)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to (L)glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment (M)to begin [c]with (N)the household of God; and if it (O)begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those (P)who do not obey the (Q)gospel of God? 18 (R)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, [d]what will become of the (S)godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to (T)the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.