Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.
A Song of Ascents.
126 When the Lord (A)brought back [a]the captive ones of Zion,
We were (B)like those who dream.
2 Then our (C)mouth was filled with laughter
And our (D)tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has (E)done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
We are (F)glad.
3 (A)Encourage the [a]exhausted, and strengthen the [b]feeble.
4 Say to those with (B)anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with (C)vengeance;
The (D)recompense of God will come,
But He will (E)save you.”
5 Then the (F)eyes of the blind will be opened
And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
6 Then the (G)lame will leap like a deer,
And the (H)tongue of the mute will shout for joy.
For waters will break forth in the (I)wilderness
And streams in the [c]Arabah.
7 The [d]scorched land will become a pool
And the thirsty ground (J)springs of water;
In the (K)haunt of jackals, its resting place,
Grass becomes reeds and rushes.
A Deputation from John
18 (A)The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. 19 Summoning [a]two of his disciples, John sent them to (B)the Lord, saying, “Are You the [b]Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” 20 When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the [c]Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’” 21 At that [d]very time He (C)cured many people of diseases and (D)afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the (E)blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the (F)poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 Blessed is he [e]who does not take offense at Me.”
24 When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 [f]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft [g]clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written,
28 I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is [i]least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they [j]acknowledged (H)God’s justice, (I)having been baptized with (J)the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and the [k](K)lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by [l]John.
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