Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
9 I will sing a (A)new song to You, O God;
Upon a (B)harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
10 Who (C)gives salvation to kings,
Who (D)rescues David His servant from the evil sword.
11 Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of (E)aliens,
Whose mouth (F)speaks deceit
And whose (G)right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12 Let our sons in their youth be as (H)grown-up plants,
And our daughters as (I)corner pillars [a]fashioned as for a palace;
13 Let our (J)garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce,
And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our [b]fields;
14 Let our (K)cattle [c]bear
Without [d](L)mishap and without [e](M)loss,
Let there be no (N)outcry in our streets!
15 How blessed are the people who are so situated;
How (O)blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!
2 “[a]I was asleep but my heart was awake.
A voice! My beloved was knocking:
‘Open to me, (A)my sister, my darling,
(B)My dove, my perfect one!
For my head is [b]drenched with dew,
My (C)locks with the [c]damp of the night.’
3 “I have (D)taken off my dress,
How can I put it on again?
I have (E)washed my feet,
How can I dirty them again?
4 “My beloved extended his hand through the opening,
And my [d](F)feelings were aroused for him.
5 “I arose to open to my beloved;
And my hands (G)dripped with myrrh,
And my fingers with [e]liquid myrrh,
On the handles of the bolt.
6 “I opened to my beloved,
But my beloved had (H)turned away and had gone!
My [f]heart went out to him as he (I)spoke.
I (J)searched for him but I did not find him;
I (K)called him but he did not answer me.
7 “The (L)watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
They struck me and wounded me;
The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.
8 “I (M)adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
If you find my beloved,
As to what you will tell him:
For (N)I am lovesick.”
9 “[g][h]What kind of beloved is your beloved,
O (O)most beautiful among women?
[i]What kind of beloved is your beloved,
That thus you adjure us?”
Admiration by the Bride
10 “[j]My beloved is dazzling and (P)ruddy,
[k](Q)Outstanding among ten thousand.
11 “His head is like gold, pure gold;
His (R)locks are like clusters of dates
And black as a raven.
12 “His (S)eyes are like doves
Beside streams of water,
Bathed in milk,
And [l]reposed in their (T)setting.
13 “His cheeks are like a (U)bed of balsam,
Banks of sweet-scented herbs;
His lips are (V)lilies
(W)Dripping with liquid myrrh.
14 “His hands are rods of gold
Set with (X)beryl;
His abdomen is carved ivory
Inlaid with [m](Y)sapphires.
15 “His legs are pillars of alabaster
Set on pedestals of pure gold;
His appearance is like (Z)Lebanon
Choice as the (AA)cedars.
16 “His [n](AB)mouth is full of sweetness.
And he is wholly (AC)desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.”
Mutual Delight in Each Other
19 For this finds [a]favor, if for the sake of (A)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if (B)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds [b]favor with God.
Christ Is Our Example
21 For (C)you have been called for this purpose, (D)since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you (E)an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who (F)committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 [c]and while being (G)reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself [d](H)bore our sins in His body on the [e](I)cross, so that we (J)might die to [f]sin and live to righteousness; for (K)by His [g]wounds you were (L)healed. 25 For you were (M)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the (N)Shepherd and [h]Guardian of your souls.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.