Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

A song of David.

¹³ Then the Lord will turn north and punish Assyria. He will destroy Nineveh—that city will be like an empty, dry desert. ¹⁴ Only sheep and wild animals will live in those ruins. Owls and crows will sit on the columns that are left standing. Their calls will be heard coming through the windows. Crows will sit on the doorsteps. Black birds^[a] will make their homes in those empty houses. ¹⁵ Nineveh is so proud now. It is such a happy city. The people think they are safe. They think Nineveh is the greatest place in the world, but it will be destroyed! It will be an empty place where only wild animals go to rest. People who pass by will whistle and shake their heads when they see how badly the city was destroyed.

²³ Then Jesus said to his followers, “The truth is, it will be very hard for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom. ²⁴ Yes, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”

²⁵ The followers were amazed to hear this. They asked, “Then who can be saved?”

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “This is something that people cannot do. But God can do anything.”

²⁷ Peter said to him, “We left everything we had and followed you. So what will we have?”

²⁸ Jesus said to them, “When the time of the new world comes, the Son of Man will sit on his great and glorious throne. And I can promise that you who followed me will sit on twelve thrones, and you will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or farms to follow me will get much more than they left. And they will have eternal life. ³⁰ Many people who are first now will be last in the future. And many who are last now will be first in the future.