Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
5 Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who (A)lead my people astray;
When they have something to bite with their teeth,
They (B)cry, “Peace,”
But against him who puts nothing in their mouths
They declare holy war.
6 Therefore it will be (C)night for you—without vision,
And darkness for you—without divination.
The (D)sun will go down on the prophets,
And the day will become dark over them.
7 The seers will be (E)ashamed
And the (F)diviners will be embarrassed.
Indeed, they will all (G)cover their [a]mouths
Because there is (H)no answer from God.
8 On the other hand (I)I am filled with power—
With the Spirit of the Lord—
And with justice and courage
To (J)make known to Jacob his rebellious act,
Even to Israel his sin.
9 Now hear this, (K)heads of the house of Jacob
And rulers of the house of Israel,
Who (L)abhor justice
And twist everything that is straight,
10 Who (M)build Zion with bloodshed
And Jerusalem with violent injustice.
11 Her leaders pronounce (N)judgment for a bribe,
Her (O)priests instruct for a price
And her prophets divine for money.
Yet they lean on the Lord saying,
“(P)Is not the Lord in our midst?
Calamity will not come upon us.”
12 Therefore, on account of you
(Q)Zion will be plowed as a field,
(R)Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,
And the (S)mountain of the [b]temple will become high places of a forest.
Prayer for Deliverance.
43 (A)Vindicate me, O God, and (B)plead my case against an ungodly nation;
[a]O deliver me from (C)the deceitful and unjust man!
2 For You are the (D)God of my strength; why have You (E)rejected me?
Why do I go (F)mourning [b]because of the oppression of the enemy?
9 For you recall, brethren, our (A)labor and hardship, how (B)working night and day so as not to be a (C)burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the (D)gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is (E)God, (F)how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we [a]behaved toward you [b]believers; 11 just as you know how we were (G)exhorting and encouraging and [c](H)imploring each one of you as (I)a father would his own children, 12 so that you would (J)walk in a manner worthy of the God who (K)calls you into His own kingdom and (L)glory.
13 For this reason we also constantly (M)thank God that when you received the (N)word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it (O)not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, (P)which also performs its work in you who believe.
Pharisaism Exposed
23 (A)Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: “(B)The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4 (C)They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5 But they do all their deeds (D)to be noticed by men; for they (E)broaden their [a]phylacteries and lengthen (F)the tassels of their garments. 6 They (G)love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called (H)Rabbi by men. 8 But (I)do not be called (J)Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for (K)One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 Do not be called [b]leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 (L)But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 (M)Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.