Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁴ God, how wonderful you are!
    You are more splendid than the hills full of animals.
⁵ The brave soldiers were stripped
    as they lay asleep in death.
Not one warrior
    had the strength to stop it.
⁶ God of Jacob, when you spoke strongly,
    horses and riders fell dead.
⁷ You are feared;
    no one can stand against you when you are angry.
⁸ From heaven you gave the decision,
    and the earth was afraid and silent.
⁹ God, you stood up to judge
    and to save the needy people of the earth. Selah
¹⁰ People praise you for your anger against evil.
    Those who live through your anger are stopped from doing more evil.

¹¹ Make and keep your promises to the Lord your God.
    From all around, gifts should come to the God we worship.
¹² God breaks the spirits of great leaders;
    the kings on earth fear him.

“Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
So do you think you can build a house for me?
    Do I need a place to rest?
² My hand made all things.
    All things are here because I made them,”
says the Lord.

“These are the people I am pleased with:
    those who are not proud or stubborn
    and who fear my word.
³ But those people who kill bulls as a sacrifice to me
    are like those who kill people.
Those who kill sheep as a sacrifice
    are like those who break the necks of dogs.
Those who give me grain offerings
    are like those who offer me the blood of pigs.^[a]
Those who burn incense
    are like those who worship idols.
These people choose their own ways, not mine,
    and they love the terrible things they do.
⁴ So I will choose their punishments,
    and I will punish them with what they fear most.
This is because I called to them, but they did not listen.
    I spoke to them, but they did not hear me.
They did things I said were evil;
    they chose to do things I did not like.”

⁵ You people who obey the words of the Lord,
    listen to what he says:
“Your brothers hated you
    and turned against you because you followed me.
Your brothers said, ‘Let the Lord be honored
    so we may see you rejoice,’
    but they will be punished.
⁶ Listen to the loud noise coming from the city;
    hear the noise from the Temple.
It is the Lord punishing his enemies,
    giving them the punishment they should have.

⁷ “A woman does not give birth before she feels the pain;
    she does not give birth to a son before the pain starts.
⁸ No one has ever heard of that happening;
    no one has ever seen that happen.
In the same way no one ever saw a country begin in one day;
    no one has ever heard of a new nation beginning in one moment.
But Jerusalem will give birth to her children
    just as soon as she feels the birth pains.
⁹ In the same way I will not cause pain
    without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord.
“If I cause you the pain,
    I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation,” says your God.
¹⁰ “Jerusalem, rejoice.
    All you people who love Jerusalem, be happy.
Those of you who felt sad for Jerusalem
    should now feel happy with her.
¹¹ You will take comfort from her and be satisfied,
    as a child is nursed by its mother.
You will receive her good things
    and enjoy her wealth.”

“I will give her peace that will flow to her like a river.
    The wealth of the nations will come to her like a river overflowing its banks.
Like babies you will be nursed and held in my arms
    and bounced on my knees.
¹³ I will comfort you
    as a mother comforts her child.
    You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”