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 but a few days,
Or an old man who does (F)not [c]live out his days;
For the youth will die at the age of one hundred
And the [d](G)one who does not reach the age of one 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)wear out the work of their hands.
23 “They will (M)not labor in vain,
Or bear children for calamity;
For they are the [f](N)offspring 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; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. 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 in 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, O Lord;
For (B)although 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 in 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]excellent things;
Let this be known throughout the earth.
6 (L)Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
For (M)great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
6 Now we command you, brethren, (A)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you [a](B)keep away from every brother who [b]leads an [c](C)unruly life and not according to (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 manner 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 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 such persons we command and (O)exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to (P)work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, (Q)brethren, (R)do not grow weary of doing good.
5 (A)And while some were talking about the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, 6 “As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which (B)there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.”
7 They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the [a]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 When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does 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 great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great [b]signs from heaven.
12 “But before all these things, (E)they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, [c]bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13 (F)It will lead to [d]an opportunity for your testimony. 14 (G)So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15 for (H)I will give you [e]utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16 But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all because of My name. 18 Yet (I)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 (J)By your endurance you will gain your [f]lives.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.