Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
A Joyful Return to Zion
A Song of Ascents.
126 When (A)the Lord brought back [a]the captivity of Zion,
(B)We were like those who dream.
2 Then (C)our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the [b]nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.
4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.
Egypt, Assyria, and Israel Blessed
18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will (A)speak the language of Canaan and (B)swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of [a]Destruction.
19 In that day (C)there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the (D)Lord at its border. 20 And (E)it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a (F)Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. 21 Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will (G)know the Lord in that day, and (H)will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and (I)heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.
23 In that day (J)there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will (K)serve with the Assyrians.
24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria (L)the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”
2 (A)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His (B)divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him (C)who called us by glory and virtue, 4 (D)by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be (E)partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the [a]corruption that is in the world through lust.
Fruitful Growth in the Faith
5 But also for this very reason, (F)giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue (G)knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control [b]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and (H)to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither [c]barren (I)nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is (J)shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent (K)to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Peter’s Approaching Death
12 For this reason (L)I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, (M)though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, (N)as long as I am in this [d]tent, (O)to stir you up by reminding you, 14 (P)knowing that shortly I must [e]put off my tent, just as (Q)our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my [f]decease.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.