Psalm 36^[a]

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.

Idolatry Forbidden

¹⁵ You saw no form^(A) of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb^(B) out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully,^{(C) 16} so that you do not become corrupt^(D) and make for yourselves an idol,^(E) an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, ¹⁷ or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air,^{(F) 18} or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. ¹⁹ And when you look up to the sky and see the sun,^(G) the moon and the stars^(H)—all the heavenly array^(I)—do not be enticed^(J) into bowing down to them and worshiping^(K) things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. ²⁰ But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace,^(L) out of Egypt,^(M) to be the people of his inheritance,^(N) as you now are.

²¹ The Lord was angry with me^(O) because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. ²² I will die in this land;^(P) I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land.^{(Q) 23} Be careful not to forget the covenant^(R) of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol^(S) in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. ²⁴ For the Lord your God is a consuming fire,^(T) a jealous God.^(U)

Paul’s Change of Plans

¹² Now this is our boast: Our conscience^(A) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity^[a](B) and godly sincerity.^(C) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom^(D) but on God’s grace. ¹³ For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, ¹⁴ as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.^(E)

¹⁵ Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you^(F) first so that you might benefit twice.^{(G) 16} I wanted to visit you on my way^(H) to Macedonia^(I) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way^(J) to Judea.^{(K) 17} Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner^(L) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful,^(M) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God,^(N) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas^[b](O) and Timothy^(P)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always^(Q) been “Yes.” ²⁰ For no matter how many promises^(R) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”^(S) is spoken by us to the glory of God.^{(T) 21} Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm^(U) in Christ. He anointed^(V) us, ²² set his seal^(W) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(X)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep^(A)

15 Now the tax collectors^(B) and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”^(C)

³ Then Jesus told them this parable:^{(D) 4} “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?^{(E) 5} And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’^{(F) 7} I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.^(G)

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins^[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’^{(H) 10} In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”^(I)