Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

“Carefree in Zion”

The Lord, an Abundant Helper.

^6 (A)But godliness actually is a means of ^(B)great gain when accompanied by ^(C)contentment. ⁷ For ^(D)we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. ⁸ If we ^(E)have food and ^[a]covering, with these we shall be content. ^9 (F)But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and ^(G)a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For ^(H)the love of money is a root of all ^[b]sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have ^(I)wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many ^[c]griefs.

¹¹ But ^(J)flee from these things, you ^(K)man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, ^(L)faith, ^(M)love, ^[d]perseverance, and gentleness. ^12 (N)Fight the good fight of ^(O)faith; ^(P)take hold of the eternal life ^(Q)to which you were called, and for which you made the good ^(R)confession in the presence of ^(S)many witnesses. ^13 (T)I direct you in the presence of God, who ^[e]gives life to all things, and of ^(U)Christ Jesus, who testified the ^(V)good confession ^(W)before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ that you keep the commandment without ^[f]fault or reproach until the ^(X)appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He will ^[g]bring about at ^(Y)the proper time—He who is ^(Z)the blessed and ^(AA)only Sovereign, ^(AB)the King of ^[h]kings and ^(AC)Lord of ^[i]lords, ^16 (AD)who alone possesses immortality and ^(AE)dwells in unapproachable light, ^(AF)whom ^[j]no one has seen or can see. ^(AG)To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in ^(AH)this present world ^(AI)not to be conceited or to ^(AJ)set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^(AK)who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Instruct them to do good, to be rich in ^(AL)good ^[k]works, ^(AM)to be generous and ready to share, ^19 (AN)storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may ^(AO)take hold of that which is truly life.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

¹⁹ “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself in splendor every day. ²⁰ And a poor man named Lazarus ^(A)was laid at his gate, covered with sores, ²¹ and longing to be fed from the scraps which fell from the rich man’s table; not only that, the dogs also were coming and licking his sores. ²² Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to ^[a](B)Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And in ^(C)Hades he raised his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his ^[b]arms. ²⁴ And he cried out and said, ‘^(D)Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in ^(E)this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that ^(F)during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. ²⁶ And ^[c]besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor will any people cross over from there to us.’ ²⁷ And he said, ‘Then I request of you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— ²⁸ for I have five brothers—in order that he may ^(G)warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as well.’ ²⁹ But Abraham *said, ‘They have ^[d](H)Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ But he said, ‘No, ^(I)father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ ³¹ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”