Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 98

Praise the King

A psalm.

Obedience and Feasting

8 The word of the Lord of Armies came: ² The Lord of Armies says this: “I am extremely jealous^(A) for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.” ³ The Lord says this: “I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City;^(B) the mountain of the Lord of Armies will be called the Holy Mountain.” ⁴ The Lord of Armies says this: “Old men and women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of advanced age. ⁵ The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them.” ⁶ The Lord of Armies says this: “Though it may seem impossible to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem impossible to me?”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. ⁷ The Lord of Armies says this: “I will save my people from the land of the east and the land of the west.^{[a] 8} I will bring them back^(C) to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.”^(D)

⁹ The Lord of Armies says this: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the Lord of Armies. ¹⁰ For prior to those days neither people nor animals had wages. There was no safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I turned everyone against his neighbor. ¹¹ But now, I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. ¹² “For they will sow in peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the skies will yield their dew. I will give the remnant of this people all these things as an inheritance.^{(E) 13} As you have been a curse among the nations,^(F) house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing.^(G) Don’t be afraid; let your hands be strong.” ¹⁴ For the Lord of Armies says this: “As I resolved to treat you badly when your ancestors provoked me to anger, and I did not relent,” says the Lord of Armies, ¹⁵ “so I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah.^(H) Don’t be afraid. ¹⁶ These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; make true and sound decisions within your city gates. ¹⁷ Do not plot evil^(I) in your hearts against your neighbor,^(J) and do not love perjury,^(K) for I hate all this”—this is the Lord’s declaration.

¹⁹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father^[a] does, the Son likewise does these things.^{(A) 20} For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works^(B) than these so that you will be amazed. ²¹ And just as the Father raises^(C) the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom he wants.^{(D) 22} The Father,^(E) in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³ so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.^(F) Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.^(G)

Life and Judgment

²⁴ “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life^(H) and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

²⁵ “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here,^(I) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.^{(J) 26} For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son^(K) to have life in himself. ²⁷ And he has granted him the right to pass judgment,^(L) because he is the Son of Man.^{(M) 28} Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.