Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A Prayer of the poor in spirit, when he is overwhelmed, and pours out his complaint before the LORD.
1 ¶ Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily.
3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as in a hearth.
4 My heart is smitten and withered like grass so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert.
7 I watch and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8 My enemies reproach me all the day, and those that are mad against me are sworn against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping,
10 because of thine indignation and thy wrath; for thou hast lifted me up and cast me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that declines, and I am withered like grass.
12 ¶ But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever and thy remembrance unto all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion; for the time to favour her, the set time, is come.
14 For thy slaves love her stones and have compassion on the dust thereof.
15 So the Gentiles shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory
16 because the LORD shall have built up Zion, and he shall be seen in his glory.
17 He shall have regarded the prayer of those who are alone and destitute and not despised their prayer.
24 ¶ Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,
25 Thus hath the LORD of the hosts the God of Israel spoken, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem and to Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah and to all the priests, saying,
26 The LORD has made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should preside in the house of the LORD over every man that is furious and prophesies, putting him in the prison and in the stocks.
27 Now therefore why hast thou not reprehended Jeremiah of Anathoth, for prophesying falsely unto you?
28 For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build houses and dwell in them and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.
30 Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,
31 Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus hath the LORD said concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah has prophesied unto you, and I did not send him, and he caused you to trust upon a lie;
32 therefore thus hath the LORD said; Behold, I visit upon Shemaiah the Nehelamite and upon his generation: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold that good which I do unto my people, said the LORD, because he has spoken rebellion against the LORD.
10 ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand firm against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the lords of this age, rulers of this darkness, against spiritual wickedness in the heavens.
13 Therefore, take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and stand fast, all the work having been finished.
14 Stand firm, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate, {the coat of mail and coat of arms} of righteousness,
15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,
16 above all, taking the shield of faith, with which ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching in this with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
19 ¶ and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that in this I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.
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