Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

76 Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of Asaph.

² I cried to the Lord with my voice; to God with my voice, and he gave ear to me.

³ In the day of my trouble I sought God, with my hands lifted up to him in the night, and I was not deceived. My soul refused to be comforted:

⁴ I remembered God, and was delighted, and was exercised, and my spirit swooned away.

⁵ My eyes prevented the watches: I was troubled, and I spoke not.

⁶ I thought upon the days of old: and I had in my mind the eternal years.

⁷ And I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was exercised and I swept my spirit.

⁸ Will God then cast off for ever? or will he never be more favourable again?

⁹ Or will he cut off his mercy for ever, from generation to generation?

¹⁰ Or will God forget to shew mercy? or will he in his anger shut up his mercies?

¹¹ And I said, Now have I begun: this is the change of the right hand of the most High.

¹² I remembered the works of the Lord: for I will be mindful of thy wonders from the beginning.

¹³ And I will meditate on all thy works: and will be employed in thy inventions.

¹⁴ Thy way, O God, is in the holy place: who is the great God like our God?

¹⁵ Thou art the God that dost wonders. Thou hast made thy power known among the nations:

¹⁶ With thy arm thou hast redeemed thy people the children of Jacob and of Joseph.

¹⁷ The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee: and they were afraid, and the depths were troubled.

¹⁸ Great was the noise of the waters: the clouds sent out a sound. For thy arrows pass:

¹⁹ The voice of thy thunder in a wheel. Thy lightnings enlightened the world: the earth shook and trembled.

²⁰ Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters: and thy footsteps shall not be known.

²¹ Thou hast conducted thy people like sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

66 Thus saith the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool: what is this house that you will build to me? and what is this place of my rest?

² My hand made all these things, and all these things were made, saith the Lord. But to whom shall I have respect, but to him that is poor and little, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my words?

³ He that sacrificeth an ox, is as if he slew a man: he that killeth a sheep in sacrifice, as if he should brain a dog: he that offereth an oblation, as if he should offer swine's blood; he that remembereth incense, as if he should bless an idol. All these things have they chosen in their ways, and their soul is delighted in their abominations.

⁴ Wherefore I also will choose their mockeries, and will bring upon them the things they feared: because I called, and there was none that would answer; I have spoken, and they heard not; and they have done evil in my eyes, and have chosen the things that displease me.

⁵ Hear the word of the Lord, you that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hate you, and cast you out for my name's sake, have said: Let the Lord be glorified, and we shall see in your joy: but they shall be confounded.

⁶ A voice of the people from the city, a voice from the temple, the voice of the Lord that rendereth recompense to his enemies.

⁷ Before she was in labour, she brought forth; before her time came to be delivered, she brought forth a man child.

⁸ Who hath ever heard such a thing? and who hath seen the like to this? shall the earth bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be brought forth at once, because Sion hath been in labour, and hath brought forth her children?

⁹ Shall not I that make others to bring forth children, myself bring forth, saith the Lord? shall I, that give generation to others, be barren, saith the Lord thy God?

¹⁰ Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her.

¹¹ That you may suck, and be filled with the breasts of her consolations: that you may milk out, and flow with delights, from the abundance of her glory.

¹² For thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring upon her as it were a river of peace, and as an overflowing torrent the glory of the Gentiles, which you shall suck; you shall be carried at the breasts, and upon the knees they shall caress you.

¹³ As one whom the mother caresseth, so will I comfort you, and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

²³ All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify.

²⁴ Let no man seek his own, but that which is another's.

²⁵ Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat; asking no question for conscience' sake.

²⁶ The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

²⁷ If any of them that believe not, invite you, and you will be willing to go; eat of any thing that is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake.

²⁸ But if any man say: This has been sacrificed to idols, do not eat of it for his sake that told it, and for conscience' sake.

²⁹ Conscience, I say, not thy own, but the other's. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?

³⁰ If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks?

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God.

³² Be without offence to the Jews, and to the Gentiles, and to the church of God:

³³ As I also in all things please all men, not seeking that which is profitable to myself, but to many, that may be saved.

11 Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.