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.

⁸ Bring forth the blind people that have eyes and the deaf that have ears.

⁹ Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this and show us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear and say, “It is truth.”

¹⁰ “Ye are My witnesses,” saith the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me.

¹¹ I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior.

¹² I have declared and have saved, and I have shown, when there was no strange god among you; therefore ye are My witnesses,” saith the Lord, “that I am God.

¹³ Yea, before the day was, I am He, and there is none that can deliver out of My hand; I will work, and who shall turn it back?”

¹⁴ Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I have sent to Babylon and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

¹⁵ I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”

²⁵ Yet I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and companion in labor and fellow soldier, but your messenger and he that ministered to my wants.

²⁶ For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because ye had heard that he had been sick.

²⁷ For indeed he was sick nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

²⁸ I sent him therefore the more carefully, that when ye see him again ye may rejoice, and I may be the less sorrowful.

²⁹ Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in high honor,

³⁰ because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not having regard for his own life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you indeed is not grievous to me, but it is a safeguard for you.