Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Prayer of Faith in Time of Distress

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. ^(A)On ^[a]an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

The Floating Ax Head

6 And ^(A)the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. ² Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.”

So he answered, “Go.”

³ Then one said, ^(B)“Please consent to go with your servants.”

And he answered, “I will go.” ⁴ So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. ⁵ But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was ^(C)borrowed.”

⁶ So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So ^(D)he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. ⁷ Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.

Woe to the Impenitent Cities^(A)

^13 (B)“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! ^(C)For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ^15 (D)And you, Capernaum, ^[a]who are ^(E)exalted to heaven, ^(F)will be brought down to Hades. ^16 (G)He who hears you hears Me, ^(H)he who rejects you rejects Me, and ^(I)he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”