Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

126 When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like those who dream.

² Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joy. Then they said among the heathen, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

³ The LORD has done great things for us! We rejoice!

⁴ O LORD, bring back our captives as the rivers in the south.

⁵ Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.

⁶ They went weeping and carried precious seed. They shall return with joy and bring their sheaves. A song of degrees, or Psalm, of Solomon

¹⁸ On that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and shall swear by the LORD of Hosts. One shall be called the City of Destruction.

¹⁹ On that day shall the Altar of the LORD be in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a Pillar to the LORD by its border.

²⁰ And it shall be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. For they shall cry to the LORD, because of the oppressors. And He shall send them a Savior, a Mighty One, and shall deliver them.

²¹ And the LORD shall be known to the Egyptians. And the Egyptians shall know the LORD on that day, and serve sacrifice and oblation, and shall vow vows to the LORD, and perform them.

²² So the LORD shall strike Egypt. He shall strike and heal it. For it shall return to the LORD. And He shall be entreated by them and shall heal them.

²³ On that day there shall be a path from Egypt to Assyria. And Assyria shall come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria. So the Egyptians shall worship with Assyria.

²⁴ On that day shall Israel be the third, with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the land.

²⁵ For the LORD of Hosts shall bless it, saying, “Blessed be My people, Egypt and Assyria, the work of My hands, and Israel, My inheritance.”

² Grace and peace be multiplied to you, through the acknowledging of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord.

³ His divine power has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness, through the acknowledging of Him Who has called us to Glory and virtue;

⁴ by which most great and precious promises are given to us, so that by them you could be partakers of the divine nature (in that you flee the corruption which is in the world through lust).

⁵ Therefore, give all diligence to this. Moreover, join virtue with your faith; and with virtue, knowledge;

⁶ and with knowledge, temperance; and with temperance, patience; and with patience, godliness;

⁷ and with godliness, brotherly kindness; and with brotherly kindness, love.

⁸ For if these things are among you, and abound, they will cause you to be neither idle nor unfruitful in the acknowledging of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ For the one who does not have these things is blind and short-sighted and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, give all the more diligence to making your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you shall never fall.

¹¹ For by this means shall entry into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be abundantly provided to you.

¹² Therefore, I will not be negligent to always remind you of these things (though you have knowledge and are established in the present truth).

¹³ For I think it right (as long as I am in this body) to stir you up by reminding you.

¹⁴ I know that the time is at hand that I must lay down this, my body, just as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me.

¹⁵ Therefore, I will always endeavor, so that you also may be reminded of these things after my departing.