Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
23 ¶ Then Job answered and said,
2 Today I will also speak with bitterness; my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order judgment before him and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No, but rather he would put it in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; and should I escape for ever from the one who condemns me.
8 ¶ Behold, I shall go to the east and not find him; and to the west, but I cannot perceive him;
9 if he is working to the north, I shall not see him; to the south, he hides himself, that I shall not see him.
16 For God has made my heart tender, and the Almighty has frightened me.
17 Why was I not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered my face with the darkness.
To the Overcomer upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.
1 ¶ My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my cry?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest in the midst of the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee and were delivered: they trusted in thee and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men and despised of the people.
7 All those that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 Turn him over to the LORD, let him deliver him, let him save him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb; thou hast made me wait upon thee since I was upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb; thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
11 ¶ Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round about.
13 They opened their mouth upon me as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
12 For the word of God is alive and efficient and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any created thing that is not manifested in his presence, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him of whom we speak.
14 Having, therefore, a great high priest who penetrated the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast this profession of our hope.
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of his grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
17 ¶ And as he was leaving to continue his way, there came one running, who kneeled before him and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why dost thou call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these I have observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, {Gr. stauros – stake} and follow me taking up thy stake (if thy desire is to be perfect).
22 But he, saddened by this word, went away grieved, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus, looking around, said unto his disciples, How hardly shall those that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for those that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier to pass a cable through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 But they were astonished even more, saying in themselves, Who then can save himself?
27 Then Jesus looking upon them said, For men it is impossible, but not for God because all things are possible for God.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Behold, we have left all and have followed thee.
29 And answering him, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no one that has left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the gospel’s
30 who shall not receive one hundredfold now in this time: houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many of the first shall be last; and of the last first.
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