Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The God Who Always Wins
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12]. A song.
76 ·People in Judah know God [L God is known in Judah];
his ·fame [name] is great in Israel.
2 His Tent is in ·Jerusalem [L Salem; C shortened name of Jerusalem];
his ·home [abode] is on Mount Zion [Ps. 48].
3 There God broke the flaming arrows,
the shields, the swords, and the weapons of war. ·
4 God, how ·wonderful [glorious; awesome; or radiant] you are!
You are more ·splendid [majestic] than the ·hills full of animals [hills full of prey; or everlasting mountains].
5 The ·brave soldiers [L strong of heart] were ·stripped [plundered]
as they ·lay asleep in death [sleep their last sleep].
Not one ·warrior [valiant person]
·had the strength to stop it [L could lift their hand].
6 God of Jacob, ·when you spoke strongly [L at your rebuke/reprimand],
horses and riders ·fell dead [L were in deep sleep; or lay stupefied].
7 You are ·feared [awesome];
·no one [L who…?] can stand against you when you are angry.
8 From heaven you ·gave the decision [made your judgment heard],
and the earth was afraid and silent.
9 God, you ·stood [rose] up to judge
and to ·save [give victory to] the needy people of the earth. ·
10 ·People praise you for your anger against evil [or Human anger praises you].
·Those who live through your anger are stopped from doing more evil [Those who survive your wrath are restrained; L You gird the remains of wrath on you].
11 Make and keep your ·promises [vows] to the Lord your God.
From all around, gifts should come to the God ·we worship [L who is awesome].
12 God ·breaks [cuts off] the spirits of ·great leaders [princes];
the kings on earth fear him.
The Lord Will Judge All Nations
66 This is what the Lord says:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
So ·do you think you can build a house for me [L where is this house you would build for me]?
·Do I need a place to rest [Where is my resting place]?
2 [L Hasn’t…?] My hand made all things.
All things are here because I made them,”
says the Lord.
“These are the people ·I am pleased with [L upon whom I look]:
those who are ·not proud or stubborn [humble and contrite in spirit]
and who ·fear [tremble at] my word.
3 But those people who kill bulls as a sacrifice to me
are like those who kill people.
Those who kill sheep as a sacrifice
are like those who break the necks of dogs.
Those who give me ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1]
are like those who offer me the blood of pigs [C dogs and pigs were ritually unclean animals and were forbidden as sacrifices].
Those who burn incense
are like those who worship idols [C their rituals were no better than pagan worship because their hearts were not right with God].
These people choose their own ways, not mine,
and they ·love [delight in] ·the terrible things they do [their abominations].
4 So I will choose ·their punishments [harsh treatment for them],
and I will punish them with what they fear most.
This is because I called to them, but they did not listen.
I spoke to them, but they did not hear me.
They did things I said were evil;
they chose to do things I did not ·like [delight in].”
5 You people who ·obey the words of the Lord [L tremble at his word],
listen to what he says:
“Your brothers hated you
and ·turned against [excluded; cast out] you because ·you followed me [L of my name].
Your brothers said, ‘Let the Lord be ·honored [glorified]
so we may see ·you rejoice [your joy],’
but they will be ·punished [L put to shame].
6 ·Listen to the loud noise coming [L A sound of uproar…!] from the city;
hear the ·noise [or voice] from the Temple.
It is the [L voice/sound of the] Lord ·punishing [repaying] his enemies,
giving them the punishment they deserve.
7 “·A woman does not give birth [L She gives birth; C alluding to Jerusalem/Zion; v. 8] before she ·feels the pain [goes into labor];
she ·does not give birth to a son [delivers a son/child] before the pain starts.
8 ·No one has ever [L Who has…?] heard of that happening;
·no one has ever [L Who has…?] seen that happen.
·In the same way no one ever saw [L Can…?] a country ·begin [be born] in one day;
·no one has ever heard of a new nation beginning [L can a nation be brought forth…?] in one moment.
But ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple] will give birth to her children
just as soon as she feels the birth pains [C the rebirth of the nation will be sudden and unexpected].
9 ·In the same way I will not cause pain [L Will I bring one to the moment of birth…?]
without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord.
“If I cause you ·the pain [to deliver],
·I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation [L will I (now) close the womb?],” says your God.
10 “·Jerusalem, rejoice [or Rejoice with Jerusalem].
All you people who love Jerusalem, be ·happy [glad for/with her].
Those of you who ·felt sad [mourned] for Jerusalem
should now ·feel happy [L rejoice with joy] with her.
11 You will ·take comfort from her [L nurse] and be satisfied,
·as a child is nursed by its mother [L at her comforting breasts].
You will ·receive her good things [L drink deeply]
·and enjoy her wealth [from her glorious abundance].”
12 This is what the Lord says:
“I will give her peace that will flow to her like a river.
The ·wealth [glory] of the nations will come to her like a ·river overflowing its banks [flood].
·Like babies you will [L You will] be nursed and held in ·my [L her] arms
and bounced on ·my [L her] knees.
13 I will comfort you
as a mother comforts her child.
You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
How to Use Christian Freedom
23 “·We are allowed to do all things [L All things are lawful/permissible],” but not all things are ·good for us to do [profitable; beneficial]. “·We are allowed to do all things [L All things are lawful/permissible],” but not all things ·help others grow stronger [L build up; C the quotations were probably slogans the Corinthians used; 6:12, 13; 7:1; 8:1, 4]. 24 Do not look out only for yourselves. Look out for the good of others.
25 Eat any meat that is sold in the meat market. Do not ask questions ·about it [L for conscience’s sake]. 26 You may eat it, “because the earth belongs to the Lord, and ·everything in it [its fullness/abundance/bounty; Ps. 24:1; 50:12; 89:11].”
27 Those who are not believers may invite you to eat with them. If you want to go, eat anything that is put before you. Do not ask questions ·about it [L for conscience’s sake]. 28 But if anyone says to you, “That food was offered to idols,” do not eat it. Do not eat it because of that person who told you and ·because eating it might be thought to be wrong [L for conscience’s sake]. 29 I don’t mean ·you think it is wrong [your conscience], but the ·other person might [the concience of the other person]. ·But why, you ask, [or For why] should my freedom be judged by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I eat the meal with thankfulness, why am I criticized because of something for which I thank God?
31 ·The answer is [or Therefore; In summary], if you eat or drink, or if you do anything, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Never do anything that might hurt others—Jews, Greeks, or God’s church— 33 just as I, also, try to please everybody in every way. I am not trying to do what is ·good [advantageous] for me but what is ·good [advantageous] for most people so they can be saved.
11 ·Follow my example [Imitate me], as I ·follow the example of [imitate] Christ.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.