Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
5 You say,
“When will the new moon festival[c] be over,[d] so we can sell grain?
When will the Sabbath end,[e] so we can open up the grain bins?[f]
We’re eager[g] to sell less for a higher price,[h]
and to cheat the buyer with rigged scales![i]
6 We’re eager to trade silver for the poor,[j]
a pair of sandals[k] for the needy.
We want to mix in some chaff with the grain!”[l]
7 The Lord confirms this oath[m] by the arrogance of Jacob:[n]
Psalm 113[a]
113 Praise the Lord.
Praise, you servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord.
2 May the Lord’s name be praised
now and forevermore.
3 From east to west[b]
the Lord’s name is deserving of praise.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations;
his splendor reaches beyond the sky.[c]
5 Who can compare to the Lord our God,
who sits on a high throne?[d]
6 He bends down to look[e]
at the sky and the earth.
7 He raises the poor from the dirt,
and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile,[f]
8 that he might seat him with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He makes the barren woman of the family[g]
a happy mother of children.[h]
Praise the Lord.
Prayer for All People
2 First of all, then, I urge that requests,[a] prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,[b] 2 even for kings[c] and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 Such prayer for all[d] is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 4 since he wants[e] all people[f] to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one intermediary[g] between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,[h] 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.[i] 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle—I am telling the truth;[j] I am not lying—and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
The Parable of the Clever Steward
16 Jesus[a] also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who was informed of accusations[b] that his manager[c] was wasting[d] his assets. 2 So[e] he called the manager[f] in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you?[g] Turn in the account of your administration,[h] because you can no longer be my manager.’ 3 Then[i] the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, since my master is taking my position[j] away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig,[k] and I’m too ashamed[l] to beg. 4 I know[m] what to do so that when I am put out of management, people will welcome me into their homes.’[n] 5 So[o] he contacted[p] his master’s debtors one by one. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 The man[q] replied, ‘100 measures[r] of olive oil.’ The manager[s] said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’[t] 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ The second man[u] replied, ‘100 measures[v] of wheat.’ The manager[w] said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write 80.’[x] 8 The[y] master commended the dishonest[z] manager because he acted shrewdly.[aa] For the people[ab] of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries[ac] than the people[ad] of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth,[ae] so that when it runs out you will be welcomed[af] into the eternal homes.[ag]
10 “The one who is faithful in a very little[ah] is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you haven’t been trustworthy[ai] in handling worldly wealth,[aj] who will entrust you with the true riches?[ak] 12 And if you haven’t been trustworthy[al] with someone else’s property,[am] who will give you your own[an] ? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate[ao] the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise[ap] the other. You cannot serve God and money.”[aq]
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