Joel 2:12-18
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
12 Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord, your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation;
assemble the aged;
gather the children,
even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her canopy.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
and do not make your heritage a mockery,
a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
God’s Response and Promise
18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land,
and had pity on his people.
Joel 2:12-18
New International Version
Rend Your Heart
12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return(A) to me with all your heart,(B)
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
13 Rend your heart(C)
and not your garments.(D)
Return(E) to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,(F)
slow to anger and abounding in love,(G)
and he relents from sending calamity.(H)
14 Who knows? He may turn(I) and relent(J)
and leave behind a blessing(K)—
grain offerings and drink offerings(L)
for the Lord your God.
15 Blow the trumpet(M) in Zion,(N)
declare a holy fast,(O)
call a sacred assembly.(P)
16 Gather the people,
consecrate(Q) the assembly;
bring together the elders,(R)
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom(S) leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
17 Let the priests, who minister(T) before the Lord,
weep(U) between the portico and the altar.(V)
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,(W)
a byword(X) among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?(Y)’”
The Lord’s Answer
Psalm 51:3-4
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Psalm 51:3-4
New International Version
Psalm 51:5-6
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
5 Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
6 You desire truth in the inward being;[a]
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Footnotes
- Psalm 51:6 Meaning of Heb uncertain
Psalm 51:5-6
New International Version
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
6 As we work together with him,[a] we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
“At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 6:1 Gk As we work together
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
New International Version
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(A) as though God were making his appeal through us.(B) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(C) 21 God made him who had no sin(D) to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(E)
6 As God’s co-workers(F) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.(G) 2 For he says,
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
Matthew 6:1-6
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Concerning Almsgiving
6 “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[a]
Concerning Prayer
5 “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[b]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 6:4 Other ancient authorities add openly
- Matthew 6:6 Other ancient authorities add openly
Matthew 6:1-6
New International Version
Giving to the Needy
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.(A) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.(B)
Prayer(C)
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing(D) in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,(E) who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-18
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Concerning Fasting
16 “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[a]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 6:18 Other ancient authorities add openly
Matthew 6:16-18
New International Version
Fasting
16 “When you fast,(A) do not look somber(B) as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.(C)
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