Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

New Heavens and a New Earth

¹⁷ “For, see, I will make new heavens and a new earth. The past things will not be remembered or come to mind. ¹⁸ But be glad and have joy forever in what I make. For see, I make Jerusalem for joy, and her people for happiness. ¹⁹ I will have joy in Jerusalem and be glad in My people. The voice of crying will no longer be heard in it, or the cry of trouble. ²⁰ No more will there be in it a child who lives only a few days, or an old man who does not live many years. For the child will live to be a hundred years old. And the one who does not live a hundred years will be thought to be cursed. ²¹ They will build houses and live in them. They will plant grapes and eat their fruit. ²² They will not build a house and another live in it. They will not plant and another eat. For My people will live a long time, like the days of a tree. And for a long time My chosen ones will enjoy the work of their hands. ²³ They will not work for nothing, or give birth to children and have trouble. For they will be the children of those who receive good from the Lord, and their children with them. ²⁴ And it will be before they call, I will answer. While they are still speaking, I will hear. ²⁵ The wolf and the lamb will eat together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. And dust will be the snake’s food. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord.

A Song of Thanks

12 You will say on that day, “I will give thanks to You, O Lord. Even though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away and You comfort me. ² See, God saves me. I will trust and not be afraid. For the Lord God is my strength and song. And He has become the One Who saves me.” ³ As water from a well brings joy to the thirsty, so people have joy when He saves them. ⁴ In that day you will say, “Give thanks to the Lord. Call on His name. Make known His works among the people. Help them remember that His name is honored.” ⁵ Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done great things. Let this be known in all the earth. ⁶ Call out and sing for joy, O people of Zion. For the Holy One of Israel is great among you.

⁶ Now this is what we tell you to do, Christian brothers. In the name of the Lord Jesus, keep away from any Christian who is lazy and who does not do what we taught you. ⁷ You know you should follow the way of life we lived when we were with you. We worked hard while we were there. ⁸ We did not eat anyone’s food without paying for it. We worked hard night and day so none of you would have to give us anything. ⁹ We could have asked you to give us food. But we did not so that you might follow our way of living. ¹⁰ When we were with you, we told you that if a man does not work, he should not eat. ¹¹ We hear that some are not working. But they are spending their time trying to see what others are doing. ¹² Our words to such people are that they should be quiet and go to work. They should eat their own food. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we say this. ¹³ But you, Christian brothers, do not get tired of doing good.

Jesus Tells of the House of God ^(A)

⁵ Some people were talking about the house of God. They were saying that the stones were beautiful and that many gifts had been given. Jesus said, ⁶ “As for these things you see, all these stones will be thrown down. Not one will be left on another.” ⁷ They asked Jesus, “Teacher, when will this take place? What are we to look for to show us these things are about to happen?” ⁸ He said, “Be careful that no one leads you the wrong way. For many people will come in My name. They will say, ‘I am the Christ.’ The time is near. Do not follow them. ⁹ When you hear of wars and fighting in different places, do not be afraid. These things have to happen first, but the end is not yet.”

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Nations will have wars with other nations. Countries will fight against countries. ¹¹ The earth will shake and break apart in different places. There will be no food. There will be bad diseases among many people. Very special things will be seen in the sky that will make people much afraid.

¹² “But before all this happens, men will take hold of you and make it very hard for you. They will give you over to the places of worship and to the prisons. They will bring you in front of kings and the leaders of the people. This will all be done to you because of Me. ¹³ This will be a time for you to tell about Me. ¹⁴ Do not think about what you will say ahead of time. ¹⁵ For I will give you wisdom in what to say and I will help you say it. Those who are against you will not be able to stop you or say you are wrong.

¹⁶ “You will be handed over by your parents and your brothers and your family and your friends. They will kill some of you. ¹⁷ All men will hate you because of Me. ¹⁸ Yet not one hair of your head will be lost. ¹⁹ But stay true and your souls will have life.