Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 148[a]
Song of the Universe
1 [b]Alleluia.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
offer praise to him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
offer praise to him, all his hosts![c]
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
offer praise to him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,[d]
and you waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name[e] of the Lord,
for it was at his command that they were created.
6 He established them in place forever and ever;
he issued a law that will never pass away.[f]
7 [g]Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and ocean depths,
8 fire and hail, snow and clouds,
storm winds that carry out his word,[h]
9 all mountains and hills,
all fruit trees and cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
creeping creatures and flying birds,[i]
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
princes and all rulers on the earth,
12 young men and women,
the elderly, as well as children.[j]
13 [k]Let them all praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above the earth and the heavens.[l]
14 He has raised high a horn[m] for his people,
to the glory of all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Alleluia.
Chapter 54[a]
The New Zion[b]
1 Sing with happiness,
you barren woman who never bore a child.
Burst forth in shouts of joy,
you who never have been in labor.
For more numerous are the children of the deserted wife
than are the children of the wedded wife,
says the Lord.
2 Enlarge the site for your dwelling
and stretch out your tent curtains
to the greatest possible extent.
Lengthen your ropes
and strengthen your tent stakes.
3 For you will spread out
to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess the nations
and settle in the desolate cities.
4 Have no fear, for you will not be put to shame;
do not be discouraged, for you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth,
and you will no longer remember
the reproach of your widowhood.
5 For your Creator has now become your husband;
his name is the Lord of hosts.
The Holy One of Israel is your redeemer;
he is called the God of the entire world.
6 The Lord has called you back
like a forsaken wife grieved in spirit,
like the repudiated wife of a man’s youth,
says your God.
7 For a brief moment I did forsake you,
but with great compassion I will take you back.
8 In an outburst of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting love
I will have compassion on you,
says the Lord, your Redeemer.
9 This for me is like the days of Noah.
Just as I swore that the waters of Noah
would never again flood the earth,
so I have sworn that I never will be angry with you
and that I will never rebuke you.
10 Although the mountains may be shaken
and the hills may totter,
my steadfast love will not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace will never be shaken,
says the Lord who has compassion on you.
11 O afflicted city, storm-battered and not comforted,
I will build you with precious stones
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 I will use rubies to make your battlements,
jewels for your gates,
and precious stones for all your walls.
13 All of your sons will be taught by the Lord,
and great will be their prosperity.
The New Jerusalem A New World and a New People[a]
Chapter 21
The New Heaven and the New Earth. 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.[b] 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, like a bride adorned and ready for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice proclaim from the throne:
“Behold, God’s dwelling is with mankind;
he will dwell with them.
They will be his people,
and he will be their God,
God-with-them.[c]
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there will no longer be death.
Neither will there be any mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order has passed away.”
5 The one seated on the throne then said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.[d] To those who are thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of life-giving water.
7 “The one who is victorious will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son.[e]
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