Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
New Heavens and a New Earth
17 “For behold, (A)I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, (B)I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
19 (C)I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people;
(D)no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for (E)the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and (F)the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 (G)They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 (H)They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
(I)for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy[a] the work of their hands.
23 (J)They shall not labor in vain
(K)or bear children for calamity,[b]
for (L)they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord,
and their descendants with them.
24 (M)Before they call I will answer;
(N)while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 (O)The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and (P)dust shall be the serpent's food.
(Q)They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
The Lord Is My Strength and My Song
12 You[a] will say (A)in that day:
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
(B)your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.
2 “Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for (C)the Lord God[b] is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
3 (D)With joy you[c] will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 (E)And you will say in that day:
Warning Against Idleness
6 Now we command you, brothers, (A)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (B)that you keep away from any (C)brother (D)who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know (E)how you ought to imitate us, because (F)we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but (G)with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was (H)not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves (I)an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: (J)If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you (K)walk in idleness, not busy at work, but (L)busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.[a]
13 As for you, brothers, (M)do not grow weary in doing good.
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
5 (A)And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, (B)the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, (C)when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, (D)“See that you are not led astray. For (E)many will come in my name, saying, (F)‘I am he!’ and, (G)‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be (H)terrified, for these things (I)must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution
10 Then he said to them, (J)“Nation will rise against nation, and (K)kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great (L)earthquakes, and in various places (M)famines and pestilences. And there will be (N)terrors and great (O)signs from heaven. 12 But before all this (P)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to (Q)the synagogues and (R)prisons, and you (S)will be brought before (T)kings and (U)governors for my name's sake. 13 (V)This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds (W)not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for (X)I will give you a mouth and (Y)wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or (Z)contradict. 16 You will be delivered up (AA)even by parents and brothers[a] and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 (AB)You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But (AC)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your (AD)endurance you will gain your lives.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.