Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord
1 Hallelujah!
Praise God in His sanctuary.
Praise Him in His mighty heavens.(A)
2 Praise Him for His powerful acts;(B)
praise Him for His abundant greatness.(C)
3 Praise Him with trumpet blast;(D)
praise Him with harp and lyre.(E)
4 Praise Him with tambourine and dance;(F)
praise Him with flute and strings.(G)
5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals;
praise Him with clashing cymbals.(H)
6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.(I)
Hallelujah!
Restoration from Captivity
30 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Write down on a scroll all the words that I have spoken to you,(A) 3 for the days are certainly coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will restore the fortunes[a] of My people Israel and Judah”(B)—the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore them to the land I gave to their ancestors and they will possess it.”
4 These are the words the Lord spoke to Israel and Judah. 5 Yes, this is what the Lord says:
We have heard a cry of terror,
of dread—there is no peace.
6 Ask and see
whether a male can give birth.
Why then do I see every man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor
and every face turned pale?
7 How awful that day will be!(C)
There will be none like it!(D)
It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,
but he will be delivered out of it.
8 “On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“I will break his yoke from your neck(E) and tear off your chains(F) so strangers will never again enslave him.(G) 9 They will serve the Lord their God and I will raise up David their king for them.”(H)
10 As for you, My servant Jacob,(I)
do not be afraid—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
and do not be dismayed, Israel,
for without fail I will save you from far away,
your descendants, from the land of their captivity!
Jacob will return and have calm and quiet
with no one to frighten him.(J)
11 For I will be with you—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
to save you!(K)
I will bring destruction on all the nations
where I have scattered you;
however, I will not bring destruction on you.
I will discipline you justly,
and I will by no means leave you unpunished.(L)
10 This is how God’s children—and the Devil’s children—are made evident.
The Command to Love
Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother.(A) 11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, 12 unlike Cain,(B) who was of the evil one(C) and murdered[a] his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates(D) you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.(E) 15 Everyone who hates his brother(F) is a murderer,(G) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
Love in Action
16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life(H) for us.(I) We should also lay down our lives for our brothers.(J)
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