Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Song of degrees.

126 When Jehovah turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

² Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing: then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them.

³ Jehovah hath done great things for us; [and] we are joyful.

⁴ Turn our captivity, O Jehovah, as the streams in the south.

⁵ They that sow in tears shall reap with rejoicing:

⁶ He goeth forth and weepeth, bearing seed for scattering; he cometh again with rejoicing, bearing his sheaves.

¹⁸ In that day shall there be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan, and swearing by Jehovah of hosts: one shall be called, The city of Heres.

¹⁹ In that day shall there be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to Jehovah:

²⁰ and it shall be for a sign and for a witness to Jehovah of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto Jehovah because of the oppressors, and he will send them a saviour and defender, who shall deliver them.

²¹ And Jehovah shall be known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians shall know Jehovah in that day, and shall serve with sacrifice and oblation; and they shall vow a vow unto Jehovah, and perform it.

²² And Jehovah will smite Egypt; he will smite and heal: and they shall return to Jehovah, and he will be entreated of them, and will heal them.

²³ In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria; and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and Egypt shall serve with Assyria.

²⁴ In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth;

²⁵ whom Jehovah of hosts will bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance!

² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in [the] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

³ As his divine power has given to us all things which relate to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us by glory and virtue,

⁴ through which he has given to us the greatest and precious promises, that through these ye may become partakers of [the] divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

⁵ But for this very reason also, using therewith all diligence, in your faith have also virtue, in virtue knowledge,

⁶ in knowledge temperance, in temperance endurance, in endurance godliness,

⁷ in godliness brotherly love, in brotherly love love:

⁸ for these things existing and abounding in you make [you] to be neither idle nor unfruitful as regards the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ;

⁹ for he with whom these things are not present is blind, short-sighted, and has forgotten the purging of his former sins.

¹⁰ Wherefore the rather, brethren, use diligence to make your calling and election sure, for doing these things ye will never fall;

¹¹ for thus shall the entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be richly furnished unto you.

¹² Wherefore I will be careful to put you always in mind of these things, although knowing [them] and established in the present truth.

¹³ But I account it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting [you] in remembrance,

¹⁴ knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle is speedily [to take place], as also our Lord Jesus Christ has manifested to me;

¹⁵ but I will use diligence, that after my departure ye should have also, at any time, [in your power] to call to mind these things.