Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 6

A Prayer for Mercy

For the choir director: with stringed instruments, according to Sheminith.^(A) A psalm of David.

The Floating Ax Head

6 The sons of the prophets^(A) said to Elisha, “Please notice that the place where we live under your supervision^[a] is too small for us. ² Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.”

“Go,” he said.

³ Then one said, “Please come with your servants.”

“I’ll come,” he answered.

⁴ So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. ⁵ As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Oh, my master, it was borrowed!” ^(B)

⁶ Then the man of God^(C) asked, “Where did it fall?”

When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a piece of wood, threw it there, and made the iron float.^{(D) 7} Then he said, “Pick it up.” So he reached out and took it.

Unrepentant Towns

¹³ “Woe^(A) to you,^(B) Chorazin!^(C) Woe to you, Bethsaida!^(D) For if the miracles^(E) that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,^(F) they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.^{(G) 14} But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment^(H) than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum,^(I) will you be exalted to heaven?^(J) No, you will go down to Hades.^{(K) 16} Whoever listens to you listens to me.^(L) Whoever rejects you rejects me.^(M) And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”^(N)