Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Victorious Power of the God of Jacob.
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.
76 God is (A)known in Judah;
His name is (B)great in Israel.
2 His [a](C)tabernacle is in (D)Salem;
His (E)dwelling place also is in Zion.
3 There He (F)broke the [b]flaming arrows,
The shield and the sword and the [c]weapons of war. [d]Selah.
4 You are resplendent,
[e]More majestic than the mountains of prey.
5 The (G)stouthearted were plundered,
[f]They sank into sleep;
And none of the [g]warriors could use his hands.
6 At Your (H)rebuke, O God of Jacob,
Both [h](I)rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.
7 You, even You, are (J)to be feared;
And (K)who may stand in Your presence when once [i]You are angry?
Heaven Is God’s Throne
66 Thus says the Lord,
“(A)Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a (B)house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that [a]I may rest?
2 “For (C)My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord.
“But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and (D)contrite of spirit, and who (E)trembles at My word.
Hypocrisy Rebuked
3 “But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man;
He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog’s neck;
He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers (F)swine’s blood;
He who [b](G)burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol.
As they have chosen their (H)own ways,
And their soul delights in their (I)abominations,
4 So I will (J)choose their [c]punishments
And will (K)bring on them what they dread.
Because I called, but (L)no one answered;
I spoke, but they did not listen.
And they did (M)evil in My sight
And chose that in which I did not delight.”
5 Hear the word of the Lord, you who (N)tremble at His word:
“Your brothers who (O)hate you, who (P)exclude you for My name’s sake,
Have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy.’
But (Q)they will be put to shame.
6 “A voice of uproar from the city, a voice from the temple,
The voice of the Lord who is (R)rendering recompense to His enemies.
7 “Before she travailed, (S)she brought forth;
Before her pain came, (T)she gave birth to a boy.
8 “(U)Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?
Can a land be [d]born in one day?
Can a nation be brought forth all at once?
As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.
9 “Shall I bring to the point of birth and (V)not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.
Joy in Jerusalem’s Future
10 “Be (W)joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who (X)love her;
Be exceedingly (Y)glad with her, all you who mourn over her,
11 That you may nurse and (Z)be satisfied with her comforting breasts,
That you may suck and be delighted with her (AA)bountiful bosom.”
12 For thus says the Lord, “Behold, I extend (AB)peace to her like a river,
And the (AC)glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
And you will [e]be nursed, you will be (AD)carried on the [f]hip and fondled on the knees.
13 “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will (AE)comfort you;
And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
23 (A)All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things (B)edify. 24 Let no one (C)seek his own good, but that of his [a]neighbor. 25 (D)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 (E)for the earth is the Lord’s, and [b]all it contains. 27 If (F)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, (G)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28 But (H)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for (I)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, (J)why am I slandered concerning that for which I (K)give thanks?
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or (L)whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 (M)Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to (N)the church of God; 33 just as I also (O)please all men in all things, (P)not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, (Q)so that they may be saved.
Christian Order
11 (R)Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
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