Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
New Heavens and a New Earth
17 “For behold, I create (A)new heavens and a new earth;
And the (B)former things will not be remembered or come to [a]mind.
18 But be (C)glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing
And her people for gladness.
19 I will also (D)rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people;
And there will no longer be heard in her
The voice of (E)weeping and the sound of crying.
20 No longer will there be [b]in it an infant who lives only a few days,
Or an old person who does (F)not [c]live out his days;
For the youth will die at the age of a hundred,
And the [d](G)one who does not reach the age of a hundred
Will be thought accursed.
21 They will (H)build houses and inhabit them;
They will also (I)plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They will not build and (J)another inhabit,
They will not plant and another eat;
For (K)as the [e]lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones will (L)fully enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They will (M)not labor in vain,
Or give birth to children for disaster;
For they are the [f](N)descendants of those blessed by the Lord,
And their descendants with them.
24 It will also come to pass that before they call, I will (O)answer; while they are still speaking, I will listen. 25 The (P)wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the (Q)lion will eat straw like the ox; and (R)dust will be the serpent’s food. They will (S)do no evil or harm on all My (T)holy mountain,” says the Lord.
Thanksgiving Expressed
12 Then you will say on that day,
“(A)I will give thanks to You, Lord;
For although (B)You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away,
And You comfort me.
2 Behold, (C)God is my salvation,
I will (D)trust and not be afraid;
For (E)the Lord God is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.”
3 Therefore you will joyously (F)draw water
From the (G)springs of salvation.
4 And on that day you will (H)say,
“(I)Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name.
(J)Make known His deeds among the peoples;
[a]Make them remember that His name is exalted.”
5 (K)Praise the Lord in song, for He has done [b]glorious things;
Let this be known throughout the earth.
6 (L)Rejoice and shout for joy, you inhabitant of Zion,
For (M)great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, (A)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you [a](B)keep away from every brother or sister who [b]leads a [c](C)disorderly life and not one in accordance with (D)the tradition which [d]you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to [e](E)follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you, 8 nor did we (F)eat [f]anyone’s bread [g]without paying for it, but with (G)labor and hardship we kept (H)working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have (I)the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves (J)as a role model for you, so that you would [h]follow our example. 10 For even (K)when we were with you, we used to give you this order: (L)if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are (M)leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like (N)busybodies. 12 Now we command and (O)exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to (P)work [i]peacefully and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, (Q)brothers and sisters, (R)do not grow weary of doing good.
5 (A)And while some were talking about the temple, that it was decorated with beautiful stones and [a]vowed gifts, He said, 6 “As for these things which you are observing, the days will come when (B)there will not be left one stone upon [b]another, which will not be torn down.”
7 They asked Him questions, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the [c]sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘(C)I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ (D)Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and revolts, do not be alarmed; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”
Things to Come
10 Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, 11 and there will be [d]massive earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrible sights and great [e]signs from heaven.
12 “But before all these things, (E)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, [f]bringing you before kings and governors on account of My name. 13 (F)It will lead to [g]an opportunity for your testimony. 14 (G)So [h]make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15 for (H)I will provide you [i]eloquence and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to oppose or refute. 16 But you will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, other relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all people because of My name. 18 And yet (I)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 (J)By your endurance you will gain your [j]lives.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.