Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
1 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah:
10 Hear the word of Adonai,
you rulers of Sodom!
Give ear to the Torah of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
Worthless Offerings
11 “For what is it to Me—the multitude of your sacrifices?”
says Adonai.
“I am full of burnt offerings of rams
and fat of fed animals.
I have no delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs or he-goats.
12 When you come to appear before Me,
who has required this at your hand—
trampling My courts?
13 Bring no more worthless offerings!
Incense is an abomination to Me.
New Moon and Shabbat, the calling of convocations
—I cannot endure it—
iniquity with solemn assembly.
14 Your New Moons and your Festivals
My soul hates!
They are a burden to Me.
I am weary to bear them.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide My eyes from you.
When you multiply prayers,
I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood!”
Scarlet Sins as Snow
16 “Wash and make yourselves clean.
Put away the evil of your deeds
from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil.
17 Learn to do good,
seek justice, relieve the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
plead for the widow.”
18 “Come now, let us reason together,”
says Adonai.
“Though your sins be like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow.
Though they be red like crimson,
they will become like wool.
19 If you are willing and obey,
you will eat the good of the land.
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured with the sword.”
For the mouth of Adonai has spoken.
A Sacrifice of Thanks
Psalm 50
1 A psalm of Asaph.
God, Elohim Adonai has spoken and summoned the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes, and does not keep silent.
A fire is devouring before Him,
and it storms around Him mightily.
4 He calls to the heavens above
and to the earth, to judge His people:
5 “Gather My kedoshim to Me,
who cut a covenant with Me with a sacrifice.”
6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
for God Himself is Judge. Selah
7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak,
O Israel, and I will testify against you:
I am God, your God.
8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices,
for your burnt offerings are continually before Me.
22 Now consider this, you who forget God.
Or else I will tear you in pieces with no one to rescue you.
23 A sacrifice of praise honors Me,
and to the one who orders his way,
I will show the salvation of God.”
The Faithful See from Afar
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen. 2 For by it the elders received commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen did not come from anything visible.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he migrated to the land of promise as if it were foreign, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob—fellow heirs of the same promise. 10 For he was waiting for the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive[a] when she was barren and past the age, since she considered the One who had made the promise to be faithful. 12 So from one—and him as good as dead—were fathered offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and as uncountable as the sand on the seashore.[b]
13 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised—but they saw them and welcomed them from afar, and they confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. [c] 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If indeed they had been thinking about where they had come from, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they yearn for a better land—that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father chose to give you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions and do tzedakah. Make money pouches for yourselves that do not get old—a treasure in the heavens that never runs out, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 “Have your belt strapped on and lamps burning. 36 Be like people waiting for their master to return from a wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.
37 “Happy are those slaves whose master finds them alert when he comes. Amen, I tell you, he will prepare himself and have them recline at table, and will come and serve them.
38 “And if he comes in the second or even the third watch[a] and finds them so, they will be happy. 39 But understand this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you don’t expect.”
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.