Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

² The Lord ^(F)looks down from heaven on the children of man,
    to see if there are any who understand,^[a]
    who ^(G)seek after God.

³ They have all turned aside; together they have become ^(H)corrupt;
    there is none who does good,
    not even one.

⁴ Have they no ^(I)knowledge, all the evildoers
    who ^(J)eat up my people as they eat bread
    and ^(K)do not call upon the Lord?

⁵ There they are in great terror,
    for God is with ^(L)the generation of the righteous.
⁶ You would shame the plans of the poor,
    but^[b] the Lord is his ^(M)refuge.

⁷ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When the Lord ^(N)restores the fortunes of his people,
    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

²⁰ “Lift up your eyes ^(A)and see
    those who come from the north.
Where is the flock that was given you,
    your beautiful flock?
²¹ What will you say when they set as head over you
    those whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you?
^(B)Will not pangs take hold of you
    like those of a woman in labor?
²² And if you say in your heart,
    ^(C)‘Why have these things come upon me?’
it is for the greatness of your iniquity
    that ^(D)your skirts are lifted up
    and you suffer violence.
^23 (E)Can the Ethiopian change his skin
    or ^(F)the leopard his spots?
Then also you can do good
    who are accustomed to do evil.
²⁴ I will scatter you^{[a] (G)}like chaff
    driven by the wind from the desert.
^25 (H)This is your lot,
    the portion I have measured out to you, declares the Lord,
because ^(I)you have forgotten me
    and trusted in lies.
^26 (J)I myself will lift up your skirts over your face,
    and your shame will be seen.
²⁷ I have seen ^(K)your abominations,
    your adulteries and ^(L)neighings, your lewd whorings,
    ^(M)on the hills in the field.
Woe to you, O Jerusalem!
    How long will it be ^(N)before you are made clean?”