Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹⁴ Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. ¹⁵ Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not ^[a]fear evil any more. ¹⁶ In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; ^[b]O Zion, let not thy hands be slack. ¹⁷ Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will ^[c]rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing. ^18 [d]I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; to whom the burden upon ^[e]her was a reproach. ¹⁹ Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save that which is lame, and gather that which was driven away; and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth. ²⁰ At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I ^[f]bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.

² Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for ^[a]Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation. ³ Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. ⁴ And in that day shall ye say, Give thanks unto Jehovah, ^[b]call upon his name, declare his doings among the peoples, make mention that his name is exalted. ⁵ Sing unto Jehovah; for he hath done ^[c]excellent things: ^[d]let this be known in all the earth. ⁶ Cry aloud and shout, thou ^[e]inhabitant of Zion; for great in the midst of thee is the Holy One of Israel.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your ^[a]forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

⁷ He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of ^[a]repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. ⁹ And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ¹⁰ And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do? ¹¹ And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise. ¹² And there came also ^[b]publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do? ¹³ And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. ¹⁴ And ^[c]soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages.

¹⁵ And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; ¹⁶ John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not ^[d]worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you ^[e]in the Holy Spirit and in fire: ¹⁷ whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.

¹⁸ With many other exhortations therefore preached he ^[f]good tidings unto the people;