Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

16 The prayer of David. Hear, O Lord, my justice: attend to my supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from deceitful lips.

² Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable.

³ Thou hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me.

⁴ That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways.

⁵ Perfect thou my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps be not moved.

⁶ I have cried to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline thy ear unto me, and hear my words.

⁷ shew forth thy wonderful mercies; thou who savest them that trust in thee.

⁸ From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy eye. Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.

⁹ From the face of the wicked who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul:

¹⁰ They have shut up their fat: their mouth hath spoken proudly.

¹¹ They have cast me forth and now they have surrounded me: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth.

¹² They have taken me, as a lion prepared for the prey; and as a young lion dwelling in secret places.

¹³ Arise, O Lord, disappoint him and supplant him; deliver my soul from the wicked one: thy sword

¹⁴ From the enemies of thy hand. O Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life: their belly is filled from thy hidden stores. They are full of children: and they have left to their little ones the rest of their substance.

¹⁵ But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice: I shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear.

²⁸ And while the word was yet in the king's mouth, a voice came down from heaven: To thee, O king Nabuchodonosor, it is said: Thy kingdom shall pass from thee,

²⁹ And they shall cast thee out from among men, and thy dwelling shall be with cattle and wild beasts: thou shalt eat grass like an ox, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

³⁰ The same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nabuchodonosor, and he was driven away from among men, and did eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: till his hairs grew like the feathers of eagles, and his nails like birds' claws.

³¹ Now at the end of the days, I Nabuchodonosor lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sense was restored to me: and I blessed the most High, and I praised and glorified him that liveth for ever: for his power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is to all generations.

³² And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing before him: for he doth according to his will, as well with the powers of heaven, as among the inhabitants of the earth: and there is none that can resist his hand, and say to him: Why hast thou done it?

³³ At the same time my sense returned to me, and I came to the honour and glory of my kingdom: and my shape returned to me: and my nobles, and my magistrates sought for me, and I was restored to my kingdom: and greater majesty was added to me.

³⁴ Therefore I Nabuchodonosor do now praise, and magnify, and glorify the King of heaven: because all his works are true, and his ways judgments, and them that walk in pride he is able to abase.

12 And he began to speak to them in parables: A certain man planted a vineyard and made a hedge about it, and dug a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it to husbandmen; and went into a far country.

² And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant to receive of the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

³ Who having laid hands on him, beat him, and sent him away empty.

⁴ And again he sent to them another servant; and him they wounded in the head, and used him reproachfully.

⁵ And again he sent another, and him they killed: and many others, of whom some they beat, and others they killed.

⁶ Therefore having yet one son, most dear to him; he also sent him unto them last of all, saying: They will reverence my son.

⁷ But the husbandmen said one to another: This is the heir; come let us kill him; and the inheritance shall be ours.

⁸ And laying hold on him, they killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

⁹ What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those husbandmen; and will give the vineyard to others.

¹⁰ And have you not read this scripture, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner:

¹¹ By the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes.

¹² And they sought to lay hands on him, but they feared the people. For they knew that he spoke this parable to them. And leaving him, they went their way.