Psalm 105^(A)

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

¹⁵ Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative^(A) of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages^(B) should be.”

¹⁶ Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah,^(C) and the name of the younger was Rachel.^{(D) 17} Leah had weak^[a] eyes, but Rachel^(E) had a lovely figure and was beautiful.^{(F) 18} Jacob was in love with Rachel^(G) and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”^(H)

¹⁹ Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” ²⁰ So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel,^(I) but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.^(J)

²¹ Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.^(K)”

²² So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.^{(L) 23} But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah^(M) and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. ²⁴ And Laban gave his servant Zilpah^(N) to his daughter as her attendant.^(O)

²⁵ When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me?^(P) I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?^(Q)”

²⁶ Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.^{(R) 27} Finish this daughter’s bridal week;^(S) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.^(T)”

²⁸ And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.^(U)

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit^(A) himself intercedes for us^(B) through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts^(C) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes^(D) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good^(E) of those who love him, who^[a] have been called^(F) according to his purpose.^{(G) 29} For those God foreknew^(H) he also predestined^(I) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(J) that he might be the firstborn^(K) among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined,^(L) he also called;^(M) those he called, he also justified;^(N) those he justified, he also glorified.^(O)

More Than Conquerors

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things?^(P) If God is for us,^(Q) who can be against us?^{(R) 32} He who did not spare his own Son,^(S) but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge^(T) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns?^(U) No one. Christ Jesus who died^(V)—more than that, who was raised to life^(W)—is at the right hand of God^(X) and is also interceding for us.^{(Y) 35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?^(Z) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?^{(AA) 36} As it is written:

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors^(AC) through him who loved us.^{(AD) 38} For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[c] neither the present nor the future,^(AE) nor any powers,^{(AF) 39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God^(AG) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.^(AH)

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast^(A)(B)

³¹ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(C) a mustard seed,^(D) which a man took and planted in his field. ³² Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”^(E)

³³ He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(F) yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour^(G) until it worked all through the dough.”^(H)

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like^(A) treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.^(B)

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like^(C) a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like^(D) a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds^(E) of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous^{(F) 50} and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^(G)

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”