Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Book II—Psalms 42–72^[a]

Psalm 42^[b]

Prayer of Longing for God

¹ For the director.^[c] A maskil of the sons of Korah.

Chapter 47^[a]

The Temple Stream. ¹ Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I beheld water flowing out eastward from under the threshold of the temple, for the temple faced east. The water was flowing down from the southern end of the temple, south of the altar. ² He took me out through the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces the east, where I saw that the water was trickling forth from the south side.

³ The man walked off to the east with a measuring line in his hand, and he measured off a thousand cubits. Then he led me through the water, which was ankle-deep. ⁴ Again, he measured off a thousand cubits and made me wade across the stream again. This time the water reached my knees. Again, he measured off a thousand cubits and made me wade across the stream again. This time the water reached my waist.

⁵ Once again, he measured off a thousand cubits, but now I beheld a river that I could not cross, for the water had risen, and it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed except by swimming. ⁶ He asked me, “Have you seen this, son of man?” Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.

⁷ When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. ⁸ He said to me, “This water flows east and goes down into the Arabah and empties into the sea, whose salt waters it makes fresh.

⁹ “Wherever the river flows, swarms of living creatures will live there and multiply. There will be an abundance of fish, for this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh. ¹⁰ Also, fishermen will gather along its banks from En-gedi to Englaim, spreading their nets. All kinds of fish will be found there, like the fish of the Great Sea.

¹¹ “However, its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. ¹² Along the river, on both banks, fruit trees of every kind will grow, with leaves that never wither and with fruit that never fails. They will bear fresh fruit every month, because they will be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit will serve as food, and their leaves will serve for healing.”

¹⁷ Appeal to the Faithful. But you, dear friends, must remember the predictions made by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{[a] 18} For they said to you, “In the final age there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly passions.”^{[b] 19} It is these people who create divisions, who follow their natural instincts and do not possess the Spirit.

²⁰ A Program of the Christian Life.^[c] However, you, dear friends, must build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. ²¹ Keep yourselves in the love of God as you await our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy, who will grant you eternal life.

²² Have compassion for those who are wavering. ²³ Save others by snatching them out of the fire. And for still others have compassion mixed with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.

²⁴ Doxology.^[d] Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to bring you safely to his glorious presence, unblemished and rejoicing, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, now, and forevermore. Amen.