Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of Asaph.
81 Sing joyfully to God! He gives us strength.
Give a loud shout to the God of Jacob!
10 I am the Lord your God.
I brought you up out of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.
11 “But my people wouldn’t listen to me.
Israel wouldn’t obey me.
12 So I let them go their own stubborn way.
I let them follow their own sinful plans.
13 “I wish my people would listen to me!
I wish Israel would live as I want them to live!
14 Then I would quickly bring their enemies under control.
I would use my power against their attackers.
15 Those who hate me would bow down to me in fear.
They would be punished forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest wheat.
I would satisfy you with the sweetest honey.”
Jeremiah Complains to the Lord
12 Lord, when I bring a matter to you,
you always do what is right.
But now I would like to speak with you
about whether you are being fair.
Why are sinful people successful?
Why do those who can’t be trusted have an easy life?
2 You have planted them.
Their roots are deep in the ground.
They grow and produce fruit.
They honor you by what they say.
But their hearts are far away from you.
3 Lord, you know me and see me.
You test my thoughts about you.
Drag those people off like sheep to be killed!
Set them apart for the day of their death!
4 How long will the land be thirsty for water?
How long will the grass in every field be dry?
The people who live in the land are evil.
So the animals and birds have died.
And that’s not all. The people are saying,
“The Lord won’t see what happens to us.”
The Lord Answers Jeremiah
5 The Lord says, “Suppose you have raced against people.
And suppose they have worn you out.
Then how would you be able to race against horses?
Suppose you feel safe only in open country.
Then how would you get along in the bushes near the Jordan River?
6 Even your relatives have turned against you.
They are members of your own family.
They have shouted loudly at you.
They might say nice things about you.
But do not trust them.
7 “I will turn my back on my people.
I will desert my land.
I love the people of Judah.
In spite of that, I will hand them over to their enemies.
8 My land has become to me
like a lion in the forest.
It roars at me.
So I hate it.
9 My own land has become like a spotted hawk.
And other hawks surround it and attack it.
Come, all you wild animals!
Gather together!
Come together to eat up my land.
10 Many shepherds will destroy my vineyard.
They will walk all over it.
They will turn my pleasant vineyard
into a dry and empty land.
11 My vineyard will become a desert.
It will be dry and empty in my sight.
The whole land will be completely destroyed.
And no one even cares.
12 Many will come to destroy it.
They will gather on the bare hilltops in the desert.
I will use them as my sword to destroy my people.
They will kill them from one end of the land to the other.
No one will be safe.
13 People will plant wheat. But all they will gather is thorns.
They will wear themselves out. But they will not have anything to show for it.
I am very angry with them.
So they will be ashamed of the crop they gather.”
7 The end of all things is near. So be watchful and control yourselves. Then you may pray. 8 Most of all, love one another deeply. Love erases many sins by forgiving them. 9 Welcome others into your homes without complaining. 10 God’s gifts of grace come in many forms. Each of you has received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it faithfully. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do it as one speaking God’s words. If anyone serves, they should do it with the strength God provides. Then in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him for ever and ever. Amen.
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