Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Ahab and Naboth’s Vineyard
21 Some time passed after these events. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard; it was in Jezreel(A) next to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.(B) 2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard(C) so I can have it for a vegetable garden, since it is right next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.”
3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “As the Lord is my witness, I will never give my ancestors’ inheritance(D) to you.”
4 So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry(E) because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my ancestors’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away,(F) and didn’t eat any food.(G)
5 Then his wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are you so upset that you refuse to eat?”
6 “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite,” he replied. “I told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you a vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard!’”
7 Then his wife Jezebel said to him, “Now, exercise your royal power over Israel. Get up, eat some food, and be happy. For I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”(H) 8 So she wrote letters(I) in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal.(J) She sent the letters to the elders(K) and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 In the letters, she wrote:
Proclaim a fast(L) and seat Naboth at the head of the people. 10 Then seat two wicked men(M) opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, “You have cursed God and the king!” (N) Then take him out and stone him to death.(O)
11 The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters she had sent them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. 13 The two wicked men came in and sat opposite him. Then the wicked men testified against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”(A)
15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite who refused to give it to you for silver,(A) since Naboth isn’t alive, but dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it.
The Lord’s Judgment on Ahab
17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite:(B) 18 “Get up and go to meet King Ahab of Israel,(C) who is in Samaria.(D) He’s in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered(E) and also taken possession?’ (F) Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick up your blood!’” (G)
20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So, my enemy, you’ve found me, have you?” (H)
He replied, “I have found you because you devoted(I) yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight. 21 This is what the Lord says:[a] ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will eradicate your descendants:
Psalm 5
The Refuge of the Righteous
For the choir director: with the flutes. A psalm of David.
1 Listen to my words, Lord;
consider my sighing.(A)
2 Pay attention to the sound of my cry,(B)
my King and my God,(C)
for I pray to you.
3 In the morning,(D) Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you(E) and watch expectantly.
15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law(A) but by faith in Jesus Christ,[a] even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ[b] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will[c] be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ,(B) is Christ then a promoter[d](C) of sin? Absolutely not!(D) 18 If I rebuild(E) those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.(F) 19 For through the law I died to the law,(G) so that I might live for God.(H) 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(I) The life I now live in the body,[e] I live by faith in the Son of God,(J) who loved(K) me(L) and gave himself(M) for me.(N) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law,(O) then Christ died(P) for nothing.
Much Forgiveness, Much Love
36 Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.(A) 37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house.(B) She brought an alabaster jar of perfume 38 and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume.(C)
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—she’s a sinner!” (D)
40 Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
He said, “Say it, teacher.”
41 “A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii,[a](E) and the other fifty. 42 Since they could not pay it back,(F) he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”
“You have judged correctly,” he told him. 44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet,(G) but she, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss,(H) but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil,(I) but she has anointed my feet with perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”(J)
49 Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” (K)
50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you.(L) Go in peace.”(M)
Many Women Support Christ’s Work
8 Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another,(N) preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God.(O) The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses:(P) Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out(Q) of her); 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.
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