Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
and I will observe it to the end.(A)
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.(B)
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Turn my heart to your decrees
and not to selfish gain.(C)
37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
be gracious to me[a] according to your word.(D)
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
which is for those who fear you.(E)
39 Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
for your ordinances are good.
40 See, I have longed for your precepts;
in your righteousness be gracious to me.[b](F)
Ezekiel’s Bereavement
15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 Mortal, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes, yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down.(A) 17 Groan quietly; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of mourners.[a](B) 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.
19 Then the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting this way?” 20 Then I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and your heart’s desire, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.(C) 22 And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of mourners.[b] 23 Your turbans shall be on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and groan to one another.(D) 24 Thus Ezekiel shall be a sign to you; you shall do just as he has done. When this comes, then you shall know that I am the Lord God.”(E)
25 And you, mortal, on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their heart’s affection, and also[c] their sons and their daughters,(F) 26 on that day, one who has escaped will come to you to report to you the news. 27 On that day your mouth shall be opened to the one who has escaped, and you shall speak and no longer be silent. So you shall be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.(G)
15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”(A) 16 But not all have obeyed the good news,[a] for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed[b] our message?”(B) 17 So faith[c] comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.[d]
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have:
“Their voice has gone out to all the earth
and their words to the ends of the world.”(C)
19 Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
“I will use those who are not a nation to make you jealous;
with a foolish nation I will provoke you.”(D)
20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
“I have been found by those who did not seek me;
I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”(E)
21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”(F)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.