Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
In Praise of a Wife of Noble Character
10 Who can find a wife of noble character?[a](A)
She is far more precious than jewels.[b]
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
12 She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.(B)
15 She rises while it is still night(C)
and provides food for her household
and portions[c] for her female servants.(D)
16 She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.[d](E)
17 She draws on her strength[e]
and reveals that her arms are strong.(F)
18 She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.(G)
19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.(H)
20 Her hands reach[f] out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.(I)
21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.[g]
22 She makes her own bed coverings;(J)
her clothing is fine linen(K) and purple.(L)
23 Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.(M)
24 She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts[h] to the merchants.
25 Strength(N) and honor are her clothing,(O)
and she can laugh at the time to come.(P)
26 Her mouth speaks wisdom,
and loving instruction[i] is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household(Q)
and is never idle.[j]
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women[k] have done noble deeds,
but you surpass them all!” (R)
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,(S)
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
31 Give her the reward of her labor,[l]
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
Psalm 1
The Two Ways
1 How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!(A)
2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.(B)
3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams[a]
that bears its fruit in its season,(C)
and its leaf does not wither.(D)
Whatever he does prospers.(E)
The Wisdom from Above
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.(A) 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth.(B) 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(C) 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.(D) 18 And the fruit of righteousness(E) is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
Proud or Humble
4 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions(F) that wage war within you?[a] 2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war.[b] You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.(G)
The Second Prediction of His Death
30 Then(A) they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it.(B) 31 For he was teaching(C) his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man(D) is going to be betrayed[a] into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise(E) three days later.”(F) 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.(G)
Who Is the Greatest?
33 They(H) came to Capernaum.(I) When he was in the house,(J) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”(K) 34 But they were silent,(L) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.(M) 35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve(N) and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”(O) 36 He took a child,(P) had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes[b] one little child such as this in my name(Q) welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent(R) me.”(S)
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