Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Prayer for Help
60 O God, You have turned away from us. You have broken us. You have been angry. O heal us and turn to us again. 2 You have made the land shake. You have torn it open. Heal it where it is broken, for it shakes. 3 You have made Your people suffer hard things. You have given us wine to drink that makes us not able to walk straight. 4 You have given a flag to those who fear You, so it may be seen because of the truth. 5 Save us with Your right hand, and answer us, so Your loved ones may be set free.
6 God has said in His holy place: “I will be full of joy. I will divide Shechem and the valley of Succoth. 7 Gilead is Mine. And Manasseh is Mine. Ephraim is the covering for My head. Judah is My Law giver. 8 Moab is where I wash My hands. I will throw My shoe over Edom. Call out, Philistia, because of me.”
9 Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom? 10 Have You not turned away from us, O God? And will You not go out with our armies, O God? 11 O give us help against those who hate us. For the help of man is worth nothing. 12 With God’s help we will do well. And He will break under His feet those who fight against us.
Hosea’s Last Words to Israel
14 Return to the Lord your God, O Israel, for you have fallen because of your sin. 2 Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all sin, and receive us in kindness, that we may praise You with our lips. 3 Assyria will not save us. We will not ride on horses. And we will never say again, ‘Our god,’ to what we have made with our hands. For those who have no father find loving-kindness in You.”
New Life for Israel
4 “I will bring My people back to Me. I will not hold back My love from them, for I am no longer angry with them. 5 I will be to Israel like the water on the grass in the early morning. He will grow like the lily, and have roots like the cedars of Lebanon. 6 His young branches will spread out and his beauty will be like the olive tree. His smell will be like the cedars of Lebanon. 7 Those who live in his shadow will grow like grain and like flowers of the vine. He will be known like the wine of Lebanon.
8 “O Ephraim, what have I to do with false gods? It is I Who answer and take care of you. I am like a green cypress tree. Your fruit comes from Me.”
9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things and know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and those who are right and good will follow them, but sinners will not follow them.
Jesus Teaches about the Cares of This Life
22 Jesus said to His followers, “Because of this, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you are going to eat. Do not worry about your body, what you are going to wear. 23 Life is worth more than food. The body is worth more than clothes. 24 Look at the birds. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They have no grain buildings for keeping grain. Yet God feeds them. Are you not worth more than the birds?
25 “Which of you can make yourself a little taller by worrying? 26 If you cannot do that which is so little, why do you worry about other things? 27 Think how the flowers grow. They do not work or make cloth. Yet, I tell you, that King Solomon in all his greatness was not dressed as well as one of these flowers. 28 God puts these clothes on the grass of the field. The grass is in the field today and put into the fire tomorrow. How much more would He want to give you clothing? You have so little faith! 29 Do not give so much thought to what you will eat or drink. Do not be worried about it. 30 For all the nations of the world go after these things. Your Father knows you need these things. 31 Instead, go after the holy nation of God. Then all these other things will be given to you.
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