Psalm 119:65-72

New International Version

ט Teth

⁶⁵Do good^(A) to your servant
    according to your word,^(B) Lord.
⁶⁶Teach me knowledge^(C) and good judgment,
    for I trust your commands.
⁶⁷Before I was afflicted^(D) I went astray,^(E)
    but now I obey your word.^(F)
⁶⁸You are good,^(G) and what you do is good;
    teach me your decrees.^(H)
⁶⁹Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,^(I)
    I keep your precepts with all my heart.
⁷⁰Their hearts are callous^(J) and unfeeling,
    but I delight in your law.
⁷¹It was good for me to be afflicted^(K)
    so that I might learn your decrees.
⁷²The law from your mouth is more precious to me
    than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.^(L)

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Isaiah 57:14-21

New International Version

Comfort for the Contrite

¹⁴And it will be said:

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!^(A)
    Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”^(B)
¹⁵For this is what the high and exalted^(C) One says—
    he who lives forever,^(D) whose name is holy:
“I live in a high^(E) and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite^(F) and lowly in spirit,^(G)
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.^(H)
¹⁶I will not accuse^(I) them forever,
    nor will I always be angry,^(J)
for then they would faint away because of me—
    the very people^(K) I have created.
¹⁷I was enraged by their sinful greed;^(L)
    I punished them, and hid^(M) my face in anger,
    yet they kept on in their willful ways.^(N)
¹⁸I have seen their ways, but I will heal^(O) them;
    I will guide^(P) them and restore comfort^(Q) to Israel’s mourners,
¹⁹    creating praise on their lips.^(R)
Peace, peace,^(S) to those far and near,”^(T)
    says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”
²⁰But the wicked^(U) are like the tossing sea,^(V)
    which cannot rest,
    whose waves cast up mire^(W) and mud.
²¹“There is no peace,”^(X) says my God, “for the wicked.”^(Y)

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Luke 14:15-24

New International Version

The Parable of the Great Banquet^(A)

¹⁵When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast^(B) in the kingdom of God.”^(C)

¹⁶Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

²⁰“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

²¹“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’^(D)

²²“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

²³“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”^(E)

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