Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
5 This is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who (A)lead my people astray:
When they have something to bite with their teeth,
They (B)cry out, “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)put to shame,
And the (F)diviners will be ashamed.
Indeed, they will all (G)cover their [a]lips
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,
And to Israel his sin.
9 Now hear this, you (K)heads of the house of Jacob
And rulers of the house of Israel,
Who (L)despise justice
And twist everything that is straight,
10 Who (M)build Zion with bloodshed,
And Jerusalem with malice.
11 Her leaders pronounce (N)judgment for a bribe,
Her (O)priests teach for pay,
And her prophets divine for money.
Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,
“(P)Is the Lord not in our midst?
Catastrophe will not come upon us.”
12 Therefore on account of you,
(Q)Zion will be plowed like 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 Help.
43 (A)Vindicate me, God, and (B)plead my case against an ungodly nation;
[a]Save me from (C)the deceitful and unjust person!
2 For You are the (D)God of my strength; why have You (E)rejected me?
Why do I go about (F)mourning [b]because of the oppression of the enemy?
9 For you recall, brothers and sisters, our (A)labor and hardship: it was by (B)working night and day so as not to be a (C)burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the (D)gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is (E)God, of (F)how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we [a]behaved toward you [b]believers; 11 just as you know how we were (G)exhorting and encouraging and (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 mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, (P)which also is at work in you who believe.
Hypocrisy 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, whatever they tell you, do and [a]comply with it all, but do not do [b]as they do; for they say things and do not do them. 4 And (C)they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. 5 And they do all their deeds (D)to be noticed by other people; for they (E)broaden their [c]phylacteries and lengthen (F)the tassels of their garments. 6 And they (G)love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, 7 and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called [d](H)Rabbi by the people. 8 But as for you, (I)do not be called [e](J)Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only (K)One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called [f]leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 (L)But the greatest of you shall be your servant. 12 (M)Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
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