Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 98
Praise the King
A psalm.
1 Sing a new song to the Lord,(A)
for He has performed wonders;
His right hand and holy arm
have won Him victory.(B)
2 The Lord has made His victory known;
He has revealed His righteousness
in the sight of the nations.(C)
3 He has remembered His love
and faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth
have seen our God’s victory.(D)
Promise to Zerubbabel
20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.(A) 22 I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms.(B) I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother’s sword. 23 On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, My servant”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and make you like My signet ring,(C) for I have chosen you.”(D) This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.
Greeting
The Elder:[a]
To the elect(A) lady[b] and her children: I love all of you in the truth—and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth(B)— 2 because of the truth that remains in us(C) and will be with us forever.
3 Grace, mercy, and peace(D) will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son(E) of the Father, in truth and love.(F)
Truth and Deception
4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in the truth,(G) in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. 5 So now I urge you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.(H) 6 And this is love:(I) that we walk according to His commands.(J) This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.[c]
7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.[d](K) This is the deceiver and the antichrist.(L) 8 Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we[e] have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.(M) 9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching(N) but goes beyond it, does not have God.(O) The one who remains(P) in that teaching, this one has both the Father(Q) and the Son.(R) 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive(S) him into your home, and don’t say, “Welcome,” to him; 11 for the one who says, “Welcome,” to him shares(T) in his evil works.(U)
Farewell
12 Though I have many things to write to you,(V) I don’t want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face[f] so that our joy(W) may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.