Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath [a]visited (A)and [b]redeemed his people,
69 (B)And hath raised up the [c]horn of salvation unto us, in the house of his servant David,
70 (C)As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which were since the world began, saying,
71 That he would send us deliverance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us,
72 That he might show mercy towards our fathers: and [d]remember his holy covenant,
73 (D)And the oath, which he sware to our father Abraham.
74 Which was, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
75 All the days of our life, in (E)holiness and righteousness [e]before him.
76 And thou, [f]babe, shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 And to [g]give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the [h]remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby (F)the [i]dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of [j]peace.
22 1 He exhorteth the King to judgment and righteousness. 9 Why Jerusalem is brought into captivity. 11 The death of Shallum the son of Josiah is prophesied.
1 Thus said the Lord, Go down to the house of the King of Judah, and speak there this thing,
2 And say, Hear the word of the Lord, O King of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates.
3 Thus saith the Lord, (A)Execute ye judgment and [a]righteousness, and deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, and vex not the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow: do no violence, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
4 For if ye do this thing, then shall the kings sitting upon the throne of David enter in by the gates of this House, (B)and ride upon chariots and upon horses, both he and his servants and his people.
5 But if ye will not hear these words, I [b]swear by myself, saith the Lord, that this House shall be waste.
6 For thus hath the Lord spoken upon the king’s house of Judah, Thou art [c]Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon, yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and as cities not inhabited.
7 And I will [d]prepare destroyers against thee, everyone with his weapons, and they shall cut down thy chief [e]cedar trees, and cast them in the fire.
8 [f]And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbor, Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this great city?
9 Then shall they answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.
10 ¶ Weep not for the dead, and be not moved for them, but weep for him [g]that goeth out: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.
11 For thus saith the Lord, As touching [h]Shallum the son of Josiah King of Judah, which reigned for Josiah his father, which went out of this place, he shall not return thither,
12 But he shall die in the place, whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.
13 ¶ Woe unto him that buildeth his house by [i]unrighteousness, and his chambers without equity: he useth his neighbor without wages, and giveth him not for his work.
14 He saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers: so he will make himself large windows, and ceiling with cedar, and paint them with vermilion.
15 Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy [j]father eat and drink and prosper, when he executed judgment and justice?
16 When he judged the cause of the afflicted and the poor, he prospered: was not this because he knew me, saith the Lord?
17 But thine eyes and thine heart are but only for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for destruction, even to do this.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a [a]lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance immortal and undefiled, and that withereth not, reserved in heaven for us,
5 [b]Which are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, which is prepared to be showed in the [c]last time.
6 Wherein ye rejoice, though now for a season (if need require) ye are in heaviness, through manifold tentations,
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth (though it be tried with fire) might be found unto your praise, and honor and glory at the [d]appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom ye have not seen, and yet love him, in whom now, though ye see him not, yet do you believe, and rejoice with [joy] unspeakable and glorious,
9 Receiving the [e]end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
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