Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
126 When the Lord returned the captives to Zion, we were like them that dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then said they among the heathen, “The Lord hath done great things for them.”
3 The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.
4 Turn back our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the South.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He will come and save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
18 And the disciples of John told him of all these things.
19 And John, calling unto him two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus asking, “Art thou He that should come, or look we for another?”
20 When the men had come unto Him, they said, “John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, asking, ‘Art thou He that should come, or look we for another?’”
21 And in that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues and of evil spirits, and unto many who were blind He gave sight.
22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, “Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard: how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached.
23 And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me.”
24 And when the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak unto the people concerning John: “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
25 But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that are gorgeously appareled and live luxuriously are in kings’ courts.
26 But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
27 This is he, of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee.’
28 For I say unto you, among those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he that is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 And all the people that heard Him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized by him.
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