Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 11[a]
Confidence in the Presence of God
1 For the leader. Of David.
I
In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to me,
“Flee like a bird to the mountains!(A)
2 See how the wicked string their bows,
fit their arrows to the string
to shoot from the shadows at the upright of heart.(B)
3 [b]If foundations are destroyed,
what can the just one do?”
II
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven.(C)
God’s eyes keep careful watch;
they test the children of Adam.
5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
hates those who love violence,
6 And rains upon the wicked
fiery coals and brimstone,
a scorching wind their allotted cup.[c](D)
7 The Lord is just and loves just deeds;
the upright will see his face.
D. Apocalypse of Isaiah[a]
Chapter 24
Judgment upon the World and the Lord’s Enthronement on Mount Zion[b]
1 See! The Lord is about to empty the earth and lay it waste;
he will twist its surface,
and scatter its inhabitants:(A)
2 People and priest shall fare alike:
servant and master,
Maid and mistress,
buyer and seller,
Lender and borrower,
creditor and debtor.(B)
3 The earth shall be utterly laid waste, utterly stripped,
for the Lord has decreed this word.
4 The earth mourns and fades,
the world languishes and fades;
both heaven and earth languish.(C)
5 The earth is polluted because of its inhabitants,
for they have transgressed laws, violated statutes,
broken the ancient covenant.[c](D)
6 Therefore a curse devours the earth,
and its inhabitants pay for their guilt;
Therefore they who dwell on earth have dwindled,
and only a few are left.(E)
7 The new wine mourns, the vine languishes,
all the merry-hearted groan.(F)
8 Stilled are the cheerful timbrels,
ended the shouts of the jubilant,
stilled the cheerful harp.(G)
9 They no longer drink wine and sing;
strong brew is bitter to those who drink it.(H)
10 Broken down is the city of chaos,[d]
every house is shut against entry.(I)
11 In the streets they cry out for lack of wine;
all joy has grown dim,
cheer is exiled from the land.(J)
12 In the city nothing remains but desolation,
gates battered into ruins.
13 For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth,
among the peoples,
As when an olive tree has been beaten,
as with a gleaning when the vintage is done.(K)
17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,(A) 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.”(B) 19 [a]He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,(C) and he received Isaac back as a symbol. 20 By faith regarding things still to come Isaac[b] blessed Jacob and Esau.(D) 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and “bowed in worship, leaning on the top of his staff.”(E) 22 By faith Joseph, near the end of his life, spoke of the Exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.(F)
23 (G)By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 [c]By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;(H) 25 he chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of the Anointed greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the recompense. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s fury, for he persevered as if seeing the one who is invisible.(I) 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.(J)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.