Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Unless the Lord Builds the House
A Song of (A)Ascents. Of Solomon.
127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord (B)watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious (C)toil;
for he gives to his (D)beloved (E)sleep.
3 Behold, (F)children are a heritage from the Lord,
(G)the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of (H)a warrior
are the children[a] of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies (I)in the gate.[b]
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
12 (A)On the following day, when they came from Bethany, (B)he was hungry. 13 (C)And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for (D)it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree
20 (A)As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, (B)“Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have (C)faith in God. 23 (D)Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, (E)‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea’, and does not (F)doubt in his heart, but (G)believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, (H)whatever you ask in prayer, (I)believe that you (J)have received[a] it, and it will be yours.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.