Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 139[a]
For the music director, a psalm of David.
139 O Lord, you examine me[b] and know me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up;
even from far away you understand my motives.
3 You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest;[c]
you are aware of everything I do.[d]
4 Certainly[e] my tongue does not frame a word
without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it.[f]
5 You squeeze me in from behind and in front;
you place your hand on me.
6 Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension;
it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.[g]
13 Certainly[a] you made my mind and heart;[b]
you wove me together[c] in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing.[d]
You knew me thoroughly;[e]
15 my bones were not hidden from you,
when[f] I was made in secret
and sewed together in the depths of the earth.[g]
16 Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb.[h]
All the days ordained for me
were recorded in your scroll
before one of them came into existence.[i]
17 How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God![j]
How vast is their sum total.[k]
18 If I tried to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
Even if I finished counting them,
I would still have to contend with you.[l]
14 Yet[a] I, the Lord, say:[b] “A new time will certainly come.[c] People now affirm their oaths with ‘I swear as surely as the Lord lives who delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt.’ 15 But in that time they will affirm them with ‘I swear as surely as the Lord lives who delivered the people of Israel from the land of the north and from all the other lands where he had banished them.’ At that time I will bring them back to the land I gave their ancestors.”[d]
16 But for now I, the Lord, say:[e] “I will send many enemies who will catch these people like fishermen. After that I will send others who will hunt them out like hunters from all the mountains, all the hills, and the crevices in the rocks.[f] 17 For I see everything they do. Their wicked ways are not hidden from me. Their sin is not hidden away where I cannot see it.[g] 18 Before I restore them[h] I will punish them in full[i] for their sins and the wrongs they have done. For they have polluted my land with the lifeless statues of their disgusting idols. They have filled the land I have claimed as my own[j] with their detestable idols.”[k]
19 Then I said,[l]
“Lord, you give me strength and protect me.
You are the one I can run to for safety when I am in trouble.[m]
Nations from all over the earth
will come to you and say,
‘Our ancestors had nothing but false gods—
worthless idols that could not help them at all.’[n]
20 Can people make their own gods?
No, what they make are not gods at all.”[o]
21 The Lord said,[p]
“So I will now let this wicked people know—
I will let them know my mighty power in judgment.
Then they will know that my name is the Lord.[q]
17 [r] “The sin of Judah is engraved with an iron chisel
on their stone-hard[s] hearts.
It is inscribed with a diamond[t] point
on the horns of their altars.[u]
2 Their children are always thinking about[v] their[w] altars
and their sacred poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah,[x]
set up beside the green trees on the high hills
3 and on the mountains and in the fields.[y]
I will give your wealth and all your treasures away as plunder.
I will give it away as the price[z] for the sins you have committed throughout your land.
4 You will lose your hold on the land[aa]
that I gave to you as a permanent possession.
I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you know nothing about.
For you have made my anger burn like a fire that will never be put out.”[ab]
Personal Greetings and Instructions
7 Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave[a] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.[b] 8 I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing[c] and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 I sent him[d] with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.[e] They will tell[f] you about everything here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him). 11 And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts,[g] these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave[h] of Christ,[i] greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured[j] in all the will of God. 13 For I can testify that he has worked hard[k] for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas[l] greet you. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters[m] who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her[n] house.[o] 16 And after[p] you have read this letter, have it read[q] to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea[r] as well. 17 And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”
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