Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Yahweh’s Lovingkindness Endures Forever

¹⁰ “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, “It is a ^(A)waste, without man and without beast,” that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are ^(B)desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, ¹¹ the voice of ^(C)joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say,

and of those who bring a ^(E)thank offering into the house of Yahweh. For I will ^[a]return the ^[b]fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says Yahweh.

¹² “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘There will again be in this place which is waste, ^(F)without man or beast, and in all its cities, ^[c]an abode of shepherds who cause their ^(G)flocks to lie down. ¹³ In the ^(H)cities of the hill country, in the cities of the ^[d]Shephelah, in the cities of the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, in the surroundings of Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again ^(I)pass under the hands of the one who numbers them,’ says Yahweh.

The Righteous Branch of David

¹⁴ ‘Behold, ^(J)days are coming,’ declares Yahweh, ‘when I will ^(K)establish the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ¹⁵ In those days and at that time I will cause a ^(L)righteous Branch of David to branch forth; and He shall do ^(M)justice and righteousness on the earth. ¹⁶ In those days ^(N)Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell in security; and this is the name by which she will be called: ^(O)Yahweh is our righteousness.’

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

^32 (A)And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they ^(B)were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him: ³³ “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and ^(C)the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles. ³⁴ And they will mock Him and ^(D)spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”

Bartimaeus Regains His Sight

^46 (A)Then they *came to Jericho. And ^(B)as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. ⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus the ^(C)Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, ^(D)Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸ And many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “^(E)Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹ And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they *called the blind man, saying to him, “^(F)Take courage, get up! He is calling for you.” ⁵⁰ And throwing off his outer garment, he jumped up and came to Jesus. ⁵¹ And Jesus answered him and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “^[a](G)Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” ⁵² And Jesus said to him, “Go; ^(H)your faith has ^[b]saved you.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.