Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Prayer for the Nation

80 Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, You Who lead Joseph like a flock! You Who sit on Your throne above the angels, let Your light shine! ² Stir up Your power in front of Ephraim and Benjamin and Manassah, and come to save us!

⁸ You brought a vine out of Egypt. You drove out the nations, and You planted it. ⁹ You cleared the land for it. And its roots went deep and filled the land. ¹⁰ The mountains were covered with its shadow. And the tall trees were covered with its branches. ¹¹ It sent out its branches to the sea, and its new branches to the River. ¹² Why have You broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its fruit? ¹³ The wild pig from among the trees eats it away. And whatever moves in the field eats from it.

¹⁴ O God of all, we beg You to return. Look down from heaven and see. Take care of this vine. ¹⁵ Take care of the root Your right hand has planted, and the branch that You have raised up for Yourself. ¹⁶ They have burned it with fire. It is cut down. May they be lost when they hear Your strong words. ¹⁷ Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, the son of man you have made strong for Yourself. ¹⁸ Then we will not turn away from You. Give us new life again, and we will call on Your name. ¹⁹ O Lord God of all, bring us back to You. Make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved.

The Day of the Lord

⁵ Come, people of Jacob. Let us walk in the light of the Lord. ⁶ For You have left Your people, the family of Jacob, because they are filled with the sinful ways of the East. They use secret ways to tell the future like the Philistines. And they make agreements with the children of strangers. ⁷ Their land is filled with silver and gold. There is no end to their riches. Their land is filled with horses also. And there is no end to their war-wagons. ⁸ Their land is filled with false gods. They worship the work of their hands, that which their fingers have made. ⁹ So pride has been taken away from the poor man, and important men have been put to shame. Do not forgive them. ¹⁰ Go into the rock and hide in the dust from the anger of the Lord and from the shining-greatness of His power. ¹¹ The proud look of man will be put to shame. The pride of men will be taken away. And the Lord alone will be honored in that day.

Do Not Fall Back Into Sin

²⁶ If we keep on sinning because we want to after we have received and know the truth, there is no gift that will take away sins then. ²⁷ Instead, we will stand before God and on that day He will judge us. And the hot fires of hell will burn up those who work against God. ²⁸ Anyone who did not obey the Old Way of Worship died without loving-kindness when two or three men spoke against him. ²⁹ How much more will a man have to be punished if he walks on and hates the Son of God? How much more will he be punished if he acts as if the blood of God’s New Way of Worship is worth nothing? This New Way of Worship is God’s way of making him holy. How much more will he be punished if he laughs at the Holy Spirit Who wanted to show him loving-favor? ³⁰ For we know God said, “I will pay back what is coming to them.” And, “The Lord will judge His people.” ^{(A) 31} The very worst thing that can happen to a man is to fall into the hands of the living God!