Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 87
Zion, the City of God
A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.
1 The city he founded[a] is on the holy mountains.(A)
2 The Lord loves Zion’s city gates
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.(B)
3 Glorious things are said about you,
city of God.(C)Selah
4 “I will make a record of those who know me:
Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush—
each one was born there.”(D)
5 And it will be said of Zion,
“This one and that one were born in her.”
The Most High himself will establish her.(E)
6 When he registers the peoples,
the Lord will record,
“This one was born there.”(F)Selah
7 Singers and dancers[b] alike will say,[c]
“My whole source of joy is[d] in you.”(G)
9 Proclaim this among the nations:(A)
Prepare for holy war;(B)
rouse the warriors;(C)
let all the men of war advance and attack!
10 Beat your plows into swords
and your pruning knives into spears.(D)
Let even the weakling say, “I am a warrior.”
11 Come quickly,[a] all you surrounding nations;
gather yourselves.(E)
Bring down your warriors there, Lord.(F)
12 Let the nations be roused
and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
for there I will sit down
to judge all the surrounding nations.(G)
13 Swing the sickle
because the harvest is ripe.(H)
Come and trample the grapes
because the winepress is full;(I)
the wine vats overflow
because the wickedness of the nations is extreme.(J)
14 Multitudes, multitudes(K)
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near(L)
in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and moon will grow dark,
and the stars will cease their shining.(M)
16 The Lord will roar from Zion(N)
and make his voice heard from Jerusalem;(O)
heaven and earth will shake.(P)
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,(Q)
a stronghold for the Israelites.(R)
About the Elders
5 I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness(A) to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:(B) 2 Shepherd God’s flock among you,(C) not overseeing[a] out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you;[b] not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd(D) appears, you will receive the unfading crown(E) of glory. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with[c] humility toward one another, because
Conclusion
6 Humble(G) yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand(H) of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.(I) 8 Be sober-minded,(J) be alert.(K) Your adversary the devil(L) is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him,(M) firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory(N) in Christ,[e] will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.[f] 11 To him be dominion[g] forever.[h] Amen.
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