Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹¹ The rich always think they are wise, but a poor person who is wise can see the truth.

¹² When good people become leaders, everything is great, but when the wicked rise to power, everyone hides.

¹³ Whoever hides their sins will not be successful, but whoever confesses their sins and stops doing wrong will receive mercy.

¹⁴ People who respect others will be blessed, but stubborn people will have plenty of troubles.

¹⁵ An evil ruler over those who are helpless is like an angry lion or a charging bear.

¹⁶ A foolish ruler hurts the people under him, but a ruler who hates wrong will rule for a long time.

¹⁷ A murderer will never have peace. Don’t support such a person.

¹⁸ Honest people will be safe, but dishonest people will be ruined.

¹⁹ Whoever works hard will have plenty to eat, but whoever wastes their time with dreams will always be poor.

²⁰ People who can be trusted will have many blessings, but those who are just trying to get rich in a hurry will be punished.

²¹ It is wrong for a judge to support someone simply because he knows them. But some judges will change their decisions for the price of a loaf of bread.

²² Selfish people only want to get rich. They do not realize that they are very close to being poor.

²³ Correct someone, and later they will thank you. That is much better than just saying something to be nice.

²⁴ Someone might steal from their parents and say, “I did nothing wrong.” But that person is as bad as an enemy who smashes everything in the house.

²⁵ Greedy people might sue you in court, but those who trust the Lord are rewarded.

²⁶ It is foolish to be too confident. Those who ask for advice are wise and will escape disaster.

²⁷ Whoever gives to the poor will have plenty. Whoever refuses to help them will get nothing but curses.

²⁸ When the wicked rise to power, everyone hides. When they are defeated, good people multiply.

⁴³ All the people were amazed at the great power of God.

Jesus Talks About His Death^(A)

The people were still amazed about all the things Jesus did. He said to his followers, ⁴⁴ “Don’t forget what I will tell you now: The Son of Man will soon be handed over to the control of other men.” ⁴⁵ But the followers did not understand what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them so that they could not understand it. But they were afraid to ask Jesus about what he said.

Who Is the Greatest?^(B)

⁴⁶ Jesus’ followers began to have an argument about which one of them was the greatest. ⁴⁷ Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he took a little child and stood the child beside him. ⁴⁸ Then he said to the followers, “Whoever accepts a little child like this in my name is accepting me. And anyone who accepts me is also accepting the one who sent me. The one among you who is the most humble—this is the one who is great.”