Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

139 Unto the end, a psalm for David.

² Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.

³ Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.

⁴ They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of saps is under their lips.

⁵ Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps.

⁶ The proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside.

¹³ I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.

¹⁴ But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance.

²¹ And the Lord visited Anna, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters: and the child Samuel became great before the Lord.

²² Now Heli was very old, and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel: and how they lay with the women that waited at the door of the tabernacle:

²³ And he said to them: Why do ye these kinds of things, which I hear, very wicked things, from all the people?

²⁴ Do not so, my sons: for it is no good report that I hear, that you make the people of the Lord to transgress.

²⁵ If one man shall sin against another, God may be appeased in his behalf: but if a man shall sin against the Lord, who shall pray for him? And they hearkened not to the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.

25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.

² And five of them were foolish, and five wise.

³ But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them:

⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps.

⁵ And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.

⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.

⁹ The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

¹⁰ Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.

¹¹ But at last come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.

¹² But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.

¹³ Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.