Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 12[a]
For the music director, according to the sheminith style;[b] a psalm of David.
12 Deliver, Lord!
For the godly[c] have disappeared;[d]
people of integrity[e] have vanished.[f]
2 People lie to one another;[g]
they flatter and deceive.[h]
3 May the Lord cut off[i] all flattering lips,
and the tongue that boasts![j]
4 They say,[k] “We speak persuasively;[l]
we know how to flatter and boast.[m]
Who is our master?”[n]
5 “Because of the violence done to the oppressed,[o]
because of the painful cries[p] of the needy,
I will spring into action,”[q] says the Lord.
“I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.”[r]
6 The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable.[s]
They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,
where it is thoroughly refined.[t]
7 You, Lord, will protect them;[u]
you will continually shelter each one from these evil people,[v]
8 for the wicked seem to be everywhere,[w]
when people promote evil.[x]
10 The appetite[a] of the wicked has desired[b] evil;
his neighbor is shown no favor[c] in his eyes.
11 When a scorner is punished, the naive[d] becomes wise;
when a wise person is instructed,[e] he gains knowledge.
12 The Righteous One[f] considers[g] the house[h] of the wicked;
he overthrows the wicked to their ruin.[i]
13 The one who shuts his ears[j] to the cry[k] of the poor,
he too will cry out and will not be answered.[l]
14 A gift given[m] in secret subdues[n] anger,
and a bribe given secretly[o] subdues[p] strong wrath.[q]
15 Doing[r] justice brings[s] joy to the righteous
and terror[t] to those who do evil.
16 The one who wanders[u] from the way of wisdom[v]
will end up[w] in the company of the departed.[x]
Jesus Warns the Disciples against Pride
45 As[a] all the people were listening, Jesus[b] said to his disciples, 46 “Beware[c] of the experts in the law.[d] They[e] like walking around in long robes, and they love elaborate greetings[f] in the marketplaces[g] and the best seats[h] in the synagogues[i] and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They[j] devour[k] widows’ property,[l] and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.”
The Widow’s Offering
21 Jesus[m] looked up[n] and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.[o] 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.[p] 3 He[q] said, “I tell you the truth,[r] this poor widow has put in more than all of them.[s] 4 For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth.[t] But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.”[u]
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