Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹⁷ For see, I am creating new heavens and a new earth—so wonderful that no one will even think about the old ones anymore. ¹⁸ Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation. Look! I will re-create Jerusalem as a place of happiness, and her people shall be a joy! ¹⁹ And I will rejoice in Jerusalem and in my people; and the voice of weeping and crying shall not be heard there anymore.

²⁰ No longer will babies die when only a few days old; no longer will men be considered old at 100! Only sinners will die that young! ^21-22 In those days, when a man builds a house, he will keep on living in it—it will not be destroyed by invading armies as in the past. My people will plant vineyards and eat the fruit themselves—their enemies will not confiscate it. For my people will live as long as trees and will long enjoy their hard-won gains. ²³ Their harvests will not be eaten by their enemies; their children will not be born to be cannon fodder. For they are the children of those the Lord has blessed; and their children, too, shall be blessed. ²⁴ I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! ²⁵ The wolf and lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw as the ox does, and poisonous snakes shall strike no more!^[a] In those days nothing and no one shall be hurt or destroyed in all my holy mountain, says the Lord.

12 On that day you will say, “Praise the Lord! He was angry with me, but now he comforts me. ² See, God has come to save me! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord is my strength and song; he is my salvation. ³ Oh, the joy of drinking deeply from the Fountain of Salvation!”

⁴ In that wonderful day you will say, “Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the world about his wondrous love.^[a] How mighty he is!” ⁵ Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. ⁶ Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy. For great and mighty is the Holy One of Israel, who lives among you.

⁶ Now here is a command, dear brothers, given in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ by his authority: Stay away from any Christian who spends his days in laziness and does not follow the ideal of hard work we set up for you. ⁷ For you well know that you ought to follow our example: you never saw us loafing; ⁸ we never accepted food from anyone without buying it; we worked hard day and night for the money we needed to live on, in order that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It wasn’t that we didn’t have the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to show you firsthand how you should work for your living. ¹⁰ Even while we were still there with you, we gave you this rule: “He who does not work shall not eat.”

¹¹ Yet we hear that some of you are living in laziness, refusing to work, and wasting your time in gossiping. ¹² In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we appeal to such people—we command them—to quiet down, get to work, and earn their own living. ¹³ And to the rest of you I say, dear brothers, never be tired of doing right.

⁵ Some of his disciples began talking about the beautiful stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls.

⁶ But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things you are admiring will be knocked down, and not one stone will be left on top of another; all will become one vast heap of rubble.”

⁷ “Master!” they exclaimed. “When? And will there be any warning ahead of time?”

⁸ He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come announcing themselves as the Messiah,^[a] and saying, ‘The time has come.’ But don’t believe them! ⁹ And when you hear of wars and insurrections beginning, don’t panic. True, wars must come, but the end won’t follow immediately— ¹⁰ for nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, ¹¹ and there will be great earthquakes, and famines in many lands, and epidemics, and terrifying things happening in the heavens.

¹² “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of special persecution, and you will be dragged into synagogues and prisons and before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ¹³ But as a result, the Messiah will be widely known and honored.^{[b] 14} Therefore, don’t be concerned about how to answer the charges against you, ¹⁵ for I will give you the right words and such logic that none of your opponents will be able to reply! ¹⁶ Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will betray you and have you arrested; and some of you will be killed. ¹⁷ And everyone will hate you because you are mine and are called by my name. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish! ¹⁹ For if you stand firm, you will win your souls.