Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Victorious Power of the God of Jacob.
For the music 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, the sword, and the [c]weapons of war. Selah
4 You are resplendent,
[d]More majestic than the mountains of prey.
5 The (G)stouthearted were plundered,
[e]They sank into sleep;
And none of the [f]warriors could use his hands.
6 At Your (H)rebuke, God of Jacob,
Both [g](I)rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.
7 You, You indeed are (J)to be feared,
And (K)who may stand in Your presence, [h]once You are angry?
Heaven Is God’s Throne
66 This is what the Lord says:
“(A)Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet.
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,
So all these things came into being,” declares the Lord.
“But I will look to this one,
At one who is humble and (D)contrite in spirit, and who (E)trembles at My word.
Hypocrisy Rebuked
3 “But the one who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a person;
The one who sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
One who offers a grain offering is like one who offers (F)pig’s blood;
One who [b](G)burns incense is like one who blesses an idol.
As they have chosen their (H)own ways,
And their souls delight in their (I)abominations,
4 So I will (J)choose their [c]punishments
And (K)bring on them what they dread.
Because I called, but (L)no one answered;
I spoke, but they did not listen.
Instead, 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 on account of My name,
Have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, so that we may see your joy.’
But (Q)they will be put to shame.
6 A sound of uproar from the city, a voice from the temple,
The voice of the Lord who is (R)dealing retribution to His enemies.
7 “Before she was in labor, (S)she delivered;
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 given birth all at once?
As soon as Zion was in labor, she also delivered her sons.
9 Shall I bring to the point of birth but (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 So that you may nurse and (Z)be satisfied with her comforting breasts,
So that you may drink fully and be delighted with her (AA)bountiful breasts.”
12 For this is what the Lord says: “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 rocked back and forth 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 permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things [a](B)build people up. 24 No one is to (C)seek his own advantage, but rather that of his [b]neighbor. 25 (D)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; 26 (E)for the earth is the Lord’s, and [c]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 the sake of conscience. 28 But (H)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience; 29 Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for (I)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, (J)why am I slandered about that for which I (K)give thanks?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or (L)whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. 32 (M)Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or (N)the church of God; 33 just as I also (O)please everyone in all things, (P)not seeking my own benefit but the benefit 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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