Book of Common Prayer

Those who love the world are sorry about the fall of Babylon, but those who are of God have cause to rejoice over her destruction.

18 And after that, I saw another angel come from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his brightness. ² And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Great Babylon is fallen, is fallen, and has become the habitation of devils, and the hold of all foul spirits, and a cage of all unclean and hateful birds. ³ For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and her merchants were made rich from the abundance of her pleasures.

⁴ And I heard another voice from heaven say, Come away from her, my people, that you be not partakers in her sins, that you receive not of her plagues. ⁵ For her sins have gone up to heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness. ⁶ Reward her even as she rewarded you, and give her double according to her works. And pour in double for her, in the same cup that she filled for you. ⁷ And as much as she glorified herself and lived wantonly, so much pour in for her of punishment and sorrow. For she said in herself, I sit being a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. ⁸ Therefore her plagues shall come at one day: death, and sorrow, and hunger; and she will be burnt with fire. For strong is the Lord God who judges her.

⁹ And the kings of the earth who have committed fornication with her and have lived wantonly with her will weep and wail over her, when they see the smoke of her burning. ¹⁰ And they will stand afar off for fear of her punishment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For at one hour has her judgment come.

¹¹ And the merchants of the earth will weep and wail in themselves, because no one will buy their wares any more – ¹² wares of gold and silver and precious stones, neither of pearl, and fine linens, and purple and scarlet cloth; and all fragrant wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of most precious wood, and of bronze and iron; ¹³ and cinnamon and incense, and oyntments, frankincense, wine, and oil, and fine flour and wheat; and work animals, and sheep, and horses, and chariots; and bodies and souls of men.

¹⁴ And the apples that your soul lusted after are departed from you. And all things that were choice and precious to you are departed from you, and you shall find them no more.

Jesus eats with the Pharisee, heals a man with dropsy on the Sabbath, teaches to be lowly, tells of the great supper, and warns people who would follow him to first determine what it will cost them. The salt of the earth.

14 And it happened that he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on a Sabbath day, and they were watching him. ² And there was before him a man who had the dropsy. ³ And Jesus addressed the wise men of law and the Pharisees, asking, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? ⁴ But they held their peace. And he took the man and healed him, and let him go. ⁵ And he spoke to them, saying, Which of you, having a donkey or an ox fallen into a pit, would not straightaway pull him out on the Sabbath day? ⁶ And they could not answer him in reply to that.

⁷ He put forth a similitude to the guests, when he observed how they sought out the seats of honour, and said to them, ⁸ When you are invited to a wedding by anyone, do not sit down in the highest place, lest a more honourable man than you be bidden by him, ⁹ and he who invited both him and you come and say to you, Make place for this man – and you then begin with shame to take the lowest seat. ¹⁰ But rather, when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest seat, so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, Friend, sit up higher. Then you will have honour in the presence of those who sit at food with you. ¹¹ For whoever exalts himself will be brought low, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.