Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses

To the Chief Musician. A ^[a]Contemplation of the sons of Korah.

The Healing Waters and Trees

47 Then he brought me back to the door of the ^[a]temple; and there was ^(A)water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. ² He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces ^(B)east; and there was water, running out on the right side.

³ And when ^(C)the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. ⁴ Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. ⁵ Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. ⁶ He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.

⁷ When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many ^(D)trees on one side and the other. ⁸ Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the ^[b]valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. ⁹ And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever ^[c]the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. ¹⁰ It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish ^(E)of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. ¹¹ But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. ^12 (F)Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; ^(G)their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for ^(H)medicine.”^[d]

^17 (A)But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁸ how they told you that ^(B)there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹ These are ^[a]sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

Maintain Your Life with God

²⁰ But you, beloved, ^(C)building yourselves up on your most holy faith, ^(D)praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, ^(E)looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

²² And on some have compassion, ^[b]making a distinction; ²³ but ^(F)others save ^[c]with fear, ^(G)pulling them out of the ^[d]fire, hating even ^(H)the garment defiled by the flesh.

Glory to God