Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

To the director: To the tune “Lilies of the Agreement.” One of Asaph’s songs of praise.

^7-8 “A woman does not give birth before she feels the pain. A woman must feel the pain of childbirth before she can see the boy she gives birth to. Who ever heard of such a thing? In the same way, no one ever saw a new world begin in one day. No one has ever heard of a new nation that began in one day. But when Zion feels the pain, she will give birth to her children. ⁹ In the same way, I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born.”

The Lord says this: “I promise that if I cause you the pain of birth, I will not stop you from having your new nation.” Your God said this.

Jesus Will Die in Jerusalem^(A)

³¹ Just then some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away from here and hide. Herod wants to kill you!”

³² Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox,^[a] ‘Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out of people and finishing my work of healing. Then, the next day, the work will be finished.’ ³³ After that I must go, because all prophets should die in Jerusalem.

³⁴ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. You stone to death the people God has sent to you. How many times I wanted to help your people. I wanted to gather them together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you did not let me. ³⁵ Now your home will be left completely empty. I tell you, you will not see me again until that time when you will say, ‘Welcome! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’^[b]”