Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
4 They lie around on beds decorated with ivory,[a]
and sprawl out on their couches.
They eat lambs from the flock,
and calves from the middle of the pen.
5 They sing[b] to the tune of[c] stringed instruments;[d]
like David they invent[e] musical instruments.
6 They drink wine from sacrificial bowls,[f]
and pour the very best oils on themselves.[g]
Yet they are not concerned over[h] the ruin[i] of Joseph.
7 Therefore they will now be the first to go into exile,[j]
and the religious banquets[k] where they sprawl on couches[l] will end.
Psalm 146[a]
146 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.
3 Do not trust in princes,
or in human beings, who cannot deliver.[b]
4 Their life’s breath departs, they return to the ground.
On that day their plans die.[c]
5 How blessed is the one whose helper is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 the one who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who remains forever faithful,[d]
7 vindicates the oppressed,[e]
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord releases the imprisoned.
8 The Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord lifts up all who are bent over.[f]
The Lord loves the godly.
9 The Lord protects the resident foreigner.
He lifts up the fatherless and the widow,[g]
but he opposes the wicked.[h]
10 The Lord rules forever,
your God, O Zion, throughout the generations to come.[i]
Praise the Lord!
6 Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit. 7 For we have brought nothing into this world and so[a] we cannot take a single thing out either. 8 But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that.[b] 9 Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root[c] of all evils.[d] Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.
11 But you, as a person dedicated to God,[e] keep away from all that.[f] Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Compete well[g] for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession[h] for[i] in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you[j] before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession[k] before Pontius Pilate, 14 to obey[l] this command[m] without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 15 —whose appearing[n] the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time. 16 He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goods[o] not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain,[p] but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good,[q] to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.[r] 19 In this way they will save up[s] a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation[t] for the future and so lay hold of[u] what is truly life.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who dressed in purple[a] and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously[b] every day. 20 But at his gate lay[c] a poor man named Lazarus[d] whose body was covered with sores,[e] 21 who longed to eat[f] what fell from the rich man’s table. In addition, the dogs[g] came and licked[h] his sores.
22 “Now[i] the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.[j] The[k] rich man also died and was buried.[l] 23 And in Hades,[m] as he was in torment,[n] he looked up[o] and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side.[p] 24 So[q] he called out,[r] ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus[s] to dip the tip of his finger[t] in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish[u] in this fire.’[v] 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child,[w] remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.[x] 26 Besides all this,[y] a great chasm[z] has been fixed between us,[aa] so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 So[ab] the rich man[ac] said, ‘Then I beg you, father—send Lazarus[ad] to my father’s house 28 (for I have five brothers) to warn[ae] them so that they don’t come[af] into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said,[ag] ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to[ah] them.’ 30 Then[ai] the rich man[aj] said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead[ak] goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 He[al] replied to him, ‘If they do not respond to[am] Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”[an]
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