◀ All Reading Plans / Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary) / Isaiah 40:1-11 (God’s coming to the exiles); Psalm 85:1-2 8-13 (Righteousness and peace); 2 Peter 3:8-15a (Waiting for the day of God); Mark 1:1-8 (John appears from the wilderness) (New International Version)
Listen to Isaiah 40:1-11 (God’s coming to the exiles); Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 (Righteousness and peace); 2 Peter 3:8-15a (Waiting for the day of God); Mark 1:1-8 (John appears from the wilderness) Audio Print Print Page Options Settings
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December 7, 1969 Use the calendar to view readings from this plan.
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Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with thematically matched Old and New Testament readings.
Duration: 1245 days
New International Version (NIV)
Version
Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort for God’s People

40 Comfort, comfort(A) my people,
    says your God.
2 Speak tenderly(B) to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service(C) has been completed,(D)
    that her sin has been paid for,(E)
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double(F) for all her sins.

3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way(G) for the Lord[a];
make straight(H) in the desert
    a highway for our God.[b](I)
4 Every valley shall be raised up,(J)
    every mountain and hill(K) made low;
the rough ground shall become level,(L)
    the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory(M) of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.(N)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”(O)

6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,(P)
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers(Q) and the flowers fall,
    because the breath(R) of the Lord blows(S) on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers(T) fall,
    but the word(U) of our God endures(V) forever.(W)”

9 You who bring good news(X) to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,[c](Y)
    lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”(Z)
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes(AA) with power,(AB)
    and he rules(AC) with a mighty arm.(AD)
See, his reward(AE) is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:(AF)
    He gathers the lambs in his arms(AG)
and carries them close to his heart;(AH)
    he gently leads(AI) those that have young.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 40:3 Or A voice of one calling in the wilderness: / “Prepare the way for the Lord
  2. Isaiah 40:3 Hebrew; Septuagint make straight the paths of our God
  3. Isaiah 40:9 Or Zion, bringer of good news, / go up on a high mountain. / Jerusalem, bringer of good news

Cross references

  1. Isaiah 40:1 : Isa 12:1; 49:13; 51:3, 12; 52:9; 57:18; 61:2; 66:13; Jer 31:13; Zep 3:14-17; Zec 1:17; 2Co 1:3
  2. Isaiah 40:2 : S Ge 34:3; S Isa 35:4
  3. Isaiah 40:2 : S Job 7:1
  4. Isaiah 40:2 : Isa 41:11-13; 49:25
  5. Isaiah 40:2 : S Lev 26:41
  6. Isaiah 40:2 : Isa 51:19; 61:7; Jer 16:18; 17:18; Zec 9:12; Rev 18:6
  7. Isaiah 40:3 : S Isa 11:16; 43:19; Mal 3:1
  8. Isaiah 40:3 : S Pr 3:5-6
  9. Isaiah 40:3 : Mt 3:3*; Mk 1:3*; Jn 1:23*
  10. Isaiah 40:4 : Isa 49:11
  11. Isaiah 40:4 : S Isa 2:14
  12. Isaiah 40:4 : S Ps 26:12; S Isa 26:7; 45:2, 13; Jer 31:9
  13. Isaiah 40:5 : S Ex 16:7; S Nu 14:21; S Isa 59:19
  14. Isaiah 40:5 : Isa 52:10; 62:2; Lk 2:30; 3:4-6*
  15. Isaiah 40:5 : S Isa 1:20; 58:14
  16. Isaiah 40:6 : S Ge 6:3; S Isa 29:5
  17. Isaiah 40:7 : S Job 8:12; S Isa 15:6
  18. Isaiah 40:7 : S Ex 15:10; S Job 41:21
  19. Isaiah 40:7 : S Ps 103:16; S Eze 22:21
  20. Isaiah 40:8 : S Isa 5:24; Jas 1:10
  21. Isaiah 40:8 : Isa 55:11; 59:21
  22. Isaiah 40:8 : S Pr 19:21; S Isa 7:7, 9; S Jer 39:16
  23. Isaiah 40:8 : S Ps 119:89; S Mt 5:18; 1Pe 1:24-25*
  24. Isaiah 40:9 : Isa 41:27; 44:28; 52:7-10; 61:1; Na 1:15; S Ac 13:32; Ro 10:15; 1Co 15:1-4
  25. Isaiah 40:9 : S Isa 1:1
  26. Isaiah 40:9 : Isa 25:9
  27. Isaiah 40:10 : Isa 35:4; 59:20; Mt 21:5; Rev 22:7
  28. Isaiah 40:10 : Isa 28:2
  29. Isaiah 40:10 : Isa 9:6-7
  30. Isaiah 40:10 : S Ps 44:3; S Isa 30:30; S 33:2
  31. Isaiah 40:10 : S Isa 35:4; Rev 22:12
  32. Isaiah 40:11 : S Ge 48:15; S Ps 28:9; S Mic 5:4; S Jn 10:11
  33. Isaiah 40:11 : S Nu 11:12
  34. Isaiah 40:11 : S Dt 26:19
  35. Isaiah 40:11 : Isa 49:10
  36. Isaiah 40:11 : S Ge 33:13; S Dt 30:4
Psalm 85:1-2

Psalm 85[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
    you restored the fortunes(A) of Jacob.
2 You forgave(B) the iniquity(C) of your people
    and covered all their sins.[b]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
  2. Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Cross references

  1. Psalm 85:1 : S Dt 30:3; Ps 14:7
  2. Psalm 85:2 : S Nu 14:19
  3. Psalm 85:2 : S Ex 32:30; S Ps 78:38
Psalm 85:8-13

8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace(A) to his people, his faithful servants—
    but let them not turn to folly.(B)
9 Surely his salvation(C) is near those who fear him,
    that his glory(D) may dwell in our land.

10 Love and faithfulness(E) meet together;
    righteousness(F) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness(G) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(H)
    and our land will yield(I) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

Cross references

  1. Psalm 85:8 : S Lev 26:6; S Isa 60:17; S Jn 14:27; 2Th 3:16
  2. Psalm 85:8 : Pr 26:11; 27:22
  3. Psalm 85:9 : Ps 27:1; Isa 43:3; 45:8; 46:13; 51:5; 56:1; 62:11
  4. Psalm 85:9 : S Ex 29:43; Isa 60:19; Hag 2:9; Zec 2:5
  5. Psalm 85:10 : Ps 89:14; 115:1; Pr 3:3
  6. Psalm 85:10 : Ps 72:2-3; Isa 32:17
  7. Psalm 85:11 : Isa 45:8
  8. Psalm 85:12 : Ps 84:11; Jas 1:17
  9. Psalm 85:12 : Lev 26:4; S Ps 67:6; Zec 8:12
2 Peter 3:8-15

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.(A) 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,(B) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient(C) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.(D)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(E) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(F) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(G) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a](H)

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward(I) to the day of God and speed its coming.[b](J) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.(K) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,(L) where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless(M) and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience(N) means salvation,(O) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up
  2. 2 Peter 3:12 Or as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come

Cross references

  1. 2 Peter 3:8 : Ps 90:4
  2. 2 Peter 3:9 : Hab 2:3; Heb 10:37
  3. 2 Peter 3:9 : S Ro 2:4
  4. 2 Peter 3:9 : S 1Ti 2:4; Rev 2:21
  5. 2 Peter 3:10 : S Lk 12:39
  6. 2 Peter 3:10 : Isa 34:4
  7. 2 Peter 3:10 : ver 7, 12; S 2Th 1:7
  8. 2 Peter 3:10 : Mt 24:35; S Heb 12:27; Rev 21:1
  9. 2 Peter 3:12 : S 1Co 1:7
  10. 2 Peter 3:12 : Ps 50:3
  11. 2 Peter 3:12 : ver 10
  12. 2 Peter 3:13 : Isa 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21:1
  13. 2 Peter 3:14 : S 1Th 3:13
  14. 2 Peter 3:15 : S Ro 2:4
  15. 2 Peter 3:15 : ver 9
  16. 2 Peter 3:15 : Eph 3:3
Mark 1:1-8

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b](B) 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”[c](C)—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”[d](D)

4 And so John the Baptist(E) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance(F) for the forgiveness of sins.(G) 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,(H) and he ate locusts(I) and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.(J) 8 I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”(K)

Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:1 Or Jesus Christ. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean Anointed One.
  2. Mark 1:1 Some manuscripts do not have the Son of God.
  3. Mark 1:2 Mal. 3:1
  4. Mark 1:3 Isaiah 40:3
  5. Mark 1:8 Or in
  6. Mark 1:8 Or in

Cross references

  1. Mark 1:1 : 1:2-8pp — Mt 3:1-11; Lk 3:2-16
  2. Mark 1:1 : S Mt 4:3
  3. Mark 1:2 : Mal 3:1; Mt 11:10; Lk 7:27
  4. Mark 1:3 : Isa 40:3; Jn 1:23
  5. Mark 1:4 : S Mt 3:1
  6. Mark 1:4 : ver 8; Jn 1:26, 33; Ac 1:5, 22; 11:16; 13:24; 18:25; 19:3, 4
  7. Mark 1:4 : Lk 1:77
  8. Mark 1:6 : 2Ki 1:8
  9. Mark 1:6 : Lev 11:22
  10. Mark 1:7 : Ac 13:25
  11. Mark 1:8 : Isa 44:3; Joel 2:28; Jn 1:33; Ac 1:5; 2:4; 11:16; 19:4-6
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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