Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

He Is Being Patient Now, But The Day of Destruction Will Come Like a Thief

⁸ But do not let this one thing be escaping your notice, beloved— that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not being slow about^[a] the promise as some regard slowness, but He is being patient toward you, not wishing^[b] any to perish, but all to make-room^[c] for repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief— during which the heavens will pass-away with-a-roar, and the elements will be destroyed while burning, and the earth and the works in it will be found^[d]. ¹¹ All these things thus being destroyed, what-kind-of people ought you to be in holy behaviors and acts of godliness, ¹² looking-for and hastening^[e] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed, being set-on-fire, and the elements are melted while burning. ¹³ But in accordance with His promise we are looking-for new heavens and a new earth, in which^[f] righteousness dwells.

So Be Diligent To Be Unspotted And Unblemished In This Day of Salvation

¹⁴ Therefore beloved, while looking-for these things, be diligent to be found unspotted^[g] and unblemished^[h] by^[i] Him, in peace. ¹⁵ And be regarding the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according-to^[j] the wisdom having been given to him,

1 The^[a] beginning of the good-news of ^[b] Jesus Christ, God’s Son

As Predicted By Isaiah, John The Baptist Came To Prepare The Way For The Messiah

² Just as it has been written in Isaiah^[c] the prophet— “Behold, I am sending-forth My messenger ahead of Your presence^[d], who will make Your way ready: ³ A voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; be making His paths straight’”— ⁴ John came^[e], the one baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And the whole Judean country^[f] was going out to him, and all the people-of-Jerusalem. And they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River while confessing-out^[g] their sins. ⁶ And John was dressed-in camel’s hair and a belt made-of-leather around his waist, and was eating locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he was proclaiming, saying “The One more powerful than me is coming after me— of Whom I am not fit, having stooped, to untie the strap of His sandals. ⁸ I baptized you with^[h] water, but He will baptize you with^[i] the Holy Spirit”.