Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 102[a]
The prayer of an oppressed man, as he grows faint and pours out his lament before the Lord.
102 O Lord, hear my prayer.
Pay attention to my cry for help.[b]
2 Do not ignore me in my time of trouble.[c]
Listen to me.[d]
When I call out to you, quickly answer me.
3 For my days go up in smoke,[e]
and my bones are charred as in a fireplace.[f]
4 My heart is parched[g] and withered like grass,
for I am unable[h] to eat food.[i]
5 Because of the anxiety that makes me groan,
my bones protrude from my skin.[j]
6 I am like an owl[k] in the wilderness;
I am like a screech owl[l] among the ruins.[m]
7 I stay awake;[n]
I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who mock me use my name in their curses.[o]
9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread,[p]
and mix my drink with my tears,[q]
10 because of your anger and raging fury.
Indeed,[r] you pick me up and throw me away.
11 My days are coming to an end,[s]
and I am withered like grass.
12 But you, O Lord, rule forever,[t]
and your reputation endures.[u]
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion.[v]
For it is time to have mercy on her,
for the appointed time has come.
14 Indeed,[w] your servants take delight in her stones,
and feel compassion for[x] the dust of her ruins.[y]
15 The nations will respect the reputation of the Lord,[z]
and all the kings of the earth will respect[aa] his splendor,
16 when the Lord rebuilds Zion,
and reveals his splendor,
17 when he responds to the prayer of the destitute,[ab]
and does not reject[ac] their request.[ad]
5 Trust[a] in the Lord with all your heart,[b]
and do not rely[c] on your own understanding.[d]
6 Acknowledge[e] him in all your ways,[f]
and he will make your paths straight.[g]
7 Do not be wise in your own estimation;[h]
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.[i]
8 This will bring[j] healing to your body,[k]
and refreshment[l] to your inner self.[m]
9 Honor[n] the Lord from your wealth
and from the firstfruits of all your crops;[o]
10 then your barns will be filled completely,[p]
and your vats[q] will overflow[r] with new wine.[s]
11 My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord,[t]
and do not loathe[u] his rebuke.
12 For the Lord disciplines[v] those he loves,
just as a father[w] disciplines[x] the son in whom he delights.
44 Our ancestors[a] had the tabernacle[b] of testimony in the wilderness,[c] just as God[d] who spoke to Moses ordered him[e] to make it according to the design he had seen. 45 Our[f] ancestors[g] received possession of it and brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors,[h] until the time[i] of David. 46 He[j] found favor[k] with[l] God and asked that he could[m] find a dwelling place[n] for the house[o] of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built a house[p] for him. 48 Yet the Most High[q] does not live in houses made by human hands,[r] as the prophet says,
49 ‘Heaven is my throne,
and earth is the footstool for my feet.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is my resting place?[s]
50 Did my hand[t] not make all these things?’[u]
51 “You stubborn[v] people, with uncircumcised[w] hearts and ears![x] You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors[y] did! 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors[z] not persecute?[aa] They[ab] killed those who foretold long ago the coming of the Righteous One,[ac] whose betrayers and murderers you have now become![ad] 53 You[ae] received the law by decrees given by angels,[af] but you did not obey[ag] it.”
Stephen is Killed
54 When they heard these things, they became furious[ah] and ground their teeth[ai] at him. 55 But Stephen,[aj] full[ak] of the Holy Spirit, looked intently[al] toward heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing[am] at the right hand of God. 56 “Look!” he said.[an] “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
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