Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A Prayer for Restoration
A song of ascents.[a]
126 When Yahweh restored the fortunes[b] of Zion,[c]
we were like dreamers.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“Yahweh has done great things for these people.”
3 Yahweh has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 Restore, O Yahweh, our fortunes[d]
like the streams in the Negeb.[e]
5 Those who sow with tears
shall reap with rejoicing.
6 He who diligently goes out with weeping,
carrying the seed bag,
shall certainly come in with rejoicing,
carrying his sheaves.
3 Strengthen the weak hands
and make the staggering knees firm.
4 Say to those who are hasty of heart,
“Be strong; you must not fear!
Look! your God will come with vengeance,
with divine retribution.[a]
He is the one who[b] will come and save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall be opened.
6 Then the lame shall leap like the deer,
and the tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy,
for waters shall break forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched ground shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water.
Her resting place is in a settlement of jackals;
the grass shall become like reeds[c] and rushes.[d]
A Question from John the Baptist
18 And his disciples reported to John about all these things. And summoning a certain two of his disciples, John 19 sent them[a] to the Lord,[b] saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 20 And when[c] the men came to him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and suffering and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people. 22 And he answered and[d] said to them, “Go and[e] tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear;[f] the dead are raised, the poor have good news announced to them.[g] 23 And whoever is not offended by me is blessed.”
24 And when[h] the messengers of John had departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and luxury are in the royal palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 27 It is this man about whom it is written:
‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’[i]
28 I tell you, there is no one greater among those born of women than John, but the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 (And all the people, when they[j] heard this[k]—even the tax collectors—affirmed the righteousness of God, because they[l] had been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, because they[m] had not been baptized by him.)
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software