Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Joy of Going to the House of the Lord
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
122 I was glad when they said to me,
(A)“Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet have been standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem!
15 And now, O Lord our God, (A)who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself (B)a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly!
16 “O Lord, (C)according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, (D)Your holy mountain; because for our sins, (E)and for the iniquities of our fathers, (F)Jerusalem and Your people (G)are a reproach to all those around us. 17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, (H)and (I)for the Lord’s sake [a]cause Your face to shine on [b]Your sanctuary, (J)which is desolate. 18 (K)O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes (L)and see our desolations, and the city (M)which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
Pride Promotes Strife
4 Where do [a]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure (A)that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and [b]war. [c]Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 (B)You ask and do not receive, (C)because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 [d]Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that (D)friendship with the world is enmity with God? (E)Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, (F)“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
(G)“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Humility Cures Worldliness
7 Therefore submit to God. (H)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 (I)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (J)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and (K)purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 (L)Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 (M)Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.