Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Privileges of Citizenship in Zion.
A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.
87 His (A)foundation is in the holy mountains.
2 The Lord (B)loves the gates of Zion
More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.
3 (C)Glorious things are spoken of you,
(D)City of God. Selah
4 “I shall mention [a](E)Rahab and Babylon [b]among those who know Me;
Behold, Philistia and (F)Tyre with [c](G)Cush:
‘This one was born there.’”
5 But of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;
And the Most High Himself will (H)establish her.
6 The Lord will count when He (I)registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah
7 Then those who (J)sing as well as those who [d](K)play the flutes will say,
“All my (L)springs of joy are in you.”
9 (A)Proclaim this among the nations:
(B)Prepare for holy war; (C)stir up the warriors!
Have all the soldiers come forward, have them come up!
10 (D)Beat your plowshares into swords,
And your pruning hooks into spears;
(E)Let the weak man say, “I am a warrior.”
11 [a](F)Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations,
And gather yourselves there.
Bring down, Lord, Your (G)warriors.
12 Let the nations be awakened
And come up to the (H)Valley of [b]Jehoshaphat,
For there I will sit to (I)judge
All the surrounding nations.
13 (J)Put in the sickle, for the (K)harvest is ripe.
Come, (L)tread the grapes, for the (M)wine press is full;
The vats overflow, for their (N)wickedness is great.
14 (O)Multitudes, multitudes in the (P)valley of [c]decision!
For the (Q)day of the Lord is near in the valley of [d]decision.
15 The (R)sun and moon have become dark,
And the stars have lost their brightness.
16 The Lord (S)roars from Zion
And (T)utters His voice from Jerusalem,
And the (U)heavens and the earth quake.
But the Lord is a (V)refuge for His people,
And a (W)stronghold for the sons of Israel.
Serve God Willingly
5 (A)Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your (B)fellow elder and a (C)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a [a](D)fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: 2 shepherd (E)the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, (F)not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and (G)not [b]with greed but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as (H)domineering over [c]those assigned to your care, but by [d]proving to be [e](I)examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief (J)Shepherd appears, you will receive the (K)unfading [f](L)crown of glory. 5 (M)You [g]younger men, likewise, (N)be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with (O)humility toward one another, because (P)God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.
6 Therefore (Q)humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 having cast all your (R)anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. 8 (S)Be of sober spirit, (T)be on the alert. Your adversary, (U)the devil, prowls around like a roaring (V)lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 [h](W)So resist him, (X)firm in your faith, knowing that (Y)the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your [i]brothers and sisters who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered (Z)for a little while, the (AA)God of all grace, who (AB)called you to His (AC)eternal glory in Christ, will Himself (AD)perfect, (AE)confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 (AF)To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
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