Sirach 38:27-32
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
27 So it is with every artisan and master artisan
who labors by night as well as by day;
those who carve the signets of seals—
each is diligent in making a great variety;
they set their heart on painting a lifelike image,
and they lose sleep in order to finish their work.(A)
28 So it is with the smith sitting by the anvil,
intent on his ironwork;
the breath of the fire melts his flesh,
and he struggles with the heat of the furnace;
the sound of the hammer deafens his ears,[a]
and his eyes are on the pattern of the object.
He sets his heart on finishing his handiwork,
and he loses sleep to complete its decoration.(B)
29 So it is with the potter sitting at his work
and turning the wheel with his feet;
he always lies down anxious about his work,
and his every work is taken into account.(C)
30 He molds the clay with his arm
and makes it pliable with his feet;
he sets his heart to finish the glazing,
and he takes care in firing[b] the kiln.
31 All these rely on their hands,
and all are skillful in their own work.
32 Without them no city can be inhabited,
and wherever they live they will not go hungry.[c]
Yet they are not sought out for the council of the people,[d]
Psalm 107:1-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Book V
(Psalms 107–150)
Psalm 107
Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Many Troubles
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.(A)
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
those he redeemed from trouble(B)
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.[a](C)
4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to an inhabited town;(D)
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress;(E)
7 he led them by a straight way,
until they reached an inhabited town.(F)
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wonderful works to humankind.(G)
9 For he satisfies the thirsty,
and the hungry he fills with good things.(H)
Footnotes
- 107.3 Cn: Heb sea
1 Corinthians 3:10-14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Let each builder choose with care how to build on it.(A) 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.(B) 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 the work of each builder will become visible, for the day[a] will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done.(C) 14 If the work that someone has built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a wage.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 3.13 Or the Day
Matthew 6:19-24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Concerning Treasures
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] consume and where thieves break in and steal,(A) 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust[b] consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.(B) 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Eye
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,(C) 23 but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Serving Two Masters
24 “No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.[c](D)
Read full chapterNew Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.