Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Habakkuk Complains to the Lord
1 This is the oracle[a] that the prophet Habakkuk saw:
2 How long, Lord, must I cry for help?
But you do not listen!
I call out to you, “Violence!”
But you do not deliver!
3 Why do you force me to witness injustice?[b]
Why do you put up with wrongdoing?[c]
Destruction and violence confront[d] me;
conflict is present and one must endure strife.[e]
4 For this reason the law lacks power,[f]
and justice is never carried out.[g]
Indeed,[h] the wicked intimidate[i] the innocent.[j]
For this reason justice is perverted.[k]
2 I will stand at my watch post;
I will remain stationed on the city wall.[a]
I will keep watching so I can see what he says to me
and can know[b] how I should answer
when he counters my argument.[c]
The Lord Assures Habakkuk
2 The Lord responded:[d]
“Write down this message.[e]
Record it legibly on tablets
so the one who announces[f] it may read it easily.[g]
3 For the message is a witness to what is decreed;[h]
it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out.[i]
Even if the message[j] is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently;[k]
for it will certainly come to pass—it will not arrive late.
4 Look, the one whose desires are not upright will faint from exhaustion,[l]
but the person of integrity[m] will live[n] because of his faithfulness.[o]
צ (Tsade)
137 You are just, O Lord,
and your judgments are fair.
138 The rules you impose are just,[a]
and absolutely reliable.
139 My zeal[b] consumes[c] me,
for my enemies forget your instructions.[d]
140 Your word is absolutely pure,
and your servant loves it.
141 I am insignificant and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your justice endures,[e]
and your law is reliable.[f]
143 Distress and hardship confront[g] me,
yet I find delight in your commands.
144 Your rules remain just.[h]
Give me insight so that I can live.[i]
Salutation
1 From Paul[a] and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Grace and peace to you[b] from God the[c] Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Thanksgiving
3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters,[d] and rightly so,[e] because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater. 4 As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.
11 And in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of his calling[a] and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to[b] the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus and Zacchaeus
19 Jesus[a] entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 Now[b] a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector[c] and was rich. 3 He[d] was trying to get a look at Jesus,[e] but being a short man he could not see over the crowd.[f] 4 So[g] he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree[h] to see him, because Jesus[i] was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up[j] and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly,[k] because I must[l] stay at your house today.”[m] 6 So he came down quickly[n] and welcomed Jesus[o] joyfully.[p] 7 And when the people[q] saw it, they all complained,[r] “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”[s] 8 But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give[t] to the poor, and if[u] I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!” 9 Then[v] Jesus said to him, “Today salvation[w] has come to this household,[x] because he too is a son of Abraham![y] 10 For the Son of Man came[z] to seek and to save the lost.”
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