Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

¹⁸ In that day^(A) five cities^(B) in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance^(C) to the Lord Almighty. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.^[a](D)

¹⁹ In that day^(E) there will be an altar^(F) to the Lord in the heart of Egypt,^(G) and a monument^(H) to the Lord at its border. ²⁰ It will be a sign and witness^(I) to the Lord Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior^(J) and defender, and he will rescue^(K) them. ²¹ So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge^(L) the Lord. They will worship^(M) with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and keep them.^{(N) 22} The Lord will strike^(O) Egypt with a plague;^(P) he will strike them and heal them. They will turn^(Q) to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal^(R) them.

²³ In that day^(S) there will be a highway^(T) from Egypt to Assyria.^(U) The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship^(V) together. ²⁴ In that day^(W) Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria,^(X) a blessing^[b](Y) on the earth. ²⁵ The Lord Almighty will bless^(Z) them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people,^(AA) Assyria my handiwork,^(AB) and Israel my inheritance.^(AC)”

² Grace and peace be yours in abundance^(A) through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.^(B)

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

³ His divine power^(C) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him^(D) who called us^(E) by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,^(F) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,^(G) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.^(H)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(I) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(J) and to self-control, perseverance;^(K) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(L) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^{(M) 8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive^(N) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(O) 9} But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,^(P) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.^(Q)

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling^(R) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,^{(S) 11} and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom^(T) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(U)

Prophecy of Scripture

¹² So I will always remind you of these things,^(V) even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth^(W) you now have. ¹³ I think it is right to refresh your memory^(X) as long as I live in the tent of this body,^{(Y) 14} because I know that I will soon put it aside,^(Z) as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.^{(AA) 15} And I will make every effort to see that after my departure^(AB) you will always be able to remember these things.