Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Creation Rejoices in His Salvation

Psalm 98

Zealous for Zion

8 Then the word of Adonai-Tzva’ot came saying: ² “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “I am exceedingly zealous for Zion, I am burning with jealousy for her.” ³ Thus says Adonai, “I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth and the mountain of Adonai-Tzva’ot will be called the Holy Mountain.” ⁴ Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “Once again old men and old women will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with his staff in his hand because of his age. ⁵ The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”

⁶ “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘It may seem difficult in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, but will it also be difficult in My eyes?’—it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot. ⁷ “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. ⁸ I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem. They will be My people and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.’ ^{[a] 9} “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘Let your hands be strong—you who hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there the day the foundation of the House of Adonai-Tzva’ot was laid—so that the Temple may be rebuilt. ¹⁰ Before those days there were no wages for man or animal, nor was there any shalom from adversity for those who came or went because I set every one against his neighbor. ¹¹ But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days”—it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot.

¹² “For there will be a sowing of shalom: the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. ¹³ It will happen that just as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you and you will be a blessing. Fear not! Let your hands be strong!’

¹⁴ For thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “Just as I determined to harm you when your fathers provoked Me to anger,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘and I did not relent, ¹⁵ so I have again determined in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Fear not! ¹⁶ These are the things that you are to do: speak the truth one to another; administer the judgment of truth and shalom in your gates; ^{[b] 17} do not let any of you devise evil in your hearts against your neighbor; and do not love false oaths, for I hate all these things,”—it is a declaration of Adonai.

¹⁹ Therefore Yeshua answered them, “Amen, amen I tell you, the Son cannot do anything by Himself. He can do only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He does. He will show Him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever He wants. ²² The Father does not judge anyone, but has handed over all judgment to the Son ²³ so that all should honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

²⁴ “Amen, amen I tell you, whoever hears My word and trusts the One who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed over from death into life. ²⁵ Amen, amen I tell you, an hour is coming and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of Ben-Elohim. Those who hear will live! ²⁶ For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. ²⁷ Also He has given the Son authority to judge, because He is the Son of Man.

²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice ²⁹ and come out!^[a] Those who have done good will come to a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil will come to a resurrection of judgment.