Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹¹ At that time, it shall be said to this people, and to Jerusalem, “A dry wind in the high places of the wilderness comes toward the daughter of My people, neither to fan nor to cleanse.

¹² “A mighty wind shall come to Me from those places. And now I will also give sentence upon them.”

²² “For my people are foolish. They have not known Me. They are foolish children and have no understanding. They are wise in doing evil, but in doing well they have no knowledge.”

²³ I have looked upon the Earth. And lo, it was without form and void. And the heavens had no light.

²⁴ I beheld the mountains. And lo, they trembled. And all the hills shook.

²⁵ I beheld, and lo, there was no man. And all the birds of the heaven had departed.

²⁶ I beheld, and lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness. And all its cities were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by His fierce wrath.

²⁷ For thus has the LORD said: “The whole land shall be desolate. Yet I will not make a full end.

²⁸ “Therefore, the Earth shall mourn. And the heavens above shall be darkened because I have pronounced it. I have thought it, and will not relent, nor will I turn back from it.

14 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They have corrupted; and done an abominable work. There is no one who does good.

² The LORD looked down from Heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any who would understand, and seek God.

³ All have gone out of the way. They are all corrupt. There is no one who does good; no, not one.

⁴ Do not all the workers of iniquity know that they eat up my people as they eat bread? They do not call upon the LORD.

⁵ There they shall be taken with fear, because God is in the generation of the just.

⁶ You have shamed the counsel of the poor. But the LORD is his refuge.

⁷ Oh, give salvation to Israel out of Zion. When the LORD turns the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad. Note that Psalm 14:5-7, which are put into the common translation (and may seem to some to be left out here) are not in the same Psalm in the Hebrew text. Rather, they are put in more fully to express the manners of the wicked. They are gathered out of Psalms 5, 10, 36, 140, and Isaiah 59. They are alleged by Saint Paul and placed together in Romans 3. A Psalm of David.

¹² Therefore, I thank Him Who has made me strong - Christ Jesus our Lord. For He counted me faithful and put me in His service

¹³ when I had previously been a blasphemer and a persecutor and an oppressor. But I was received to mercy. For I did it ignorantly, through unbelief.

¹⁴ But the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ This is a true saying and by all means worthy to be received: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of whom I am chief.

¹⁶ But, I was received to mercy for this reason: so that Jesus Christ should first show all long suffering on me, as an example to those who shall (in time) come to believe in Him unto eternal life.

¹⁷ Now, to the King everlasting, immortal, invisible; to God (Who alone is wise) be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

15 Then all the tax collectors and sinners came to Him, to hear Him.

² Therefore, the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, “He receives sinners, and eats with them.”

³ Then He spoke this parable to them, saying,

⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he finds it?

⁵ “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders with joy.

⁶ “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found my sheep which was lost!’

⁷ “I say to you that joy shall likewise be in Heaven for one sinner who converts, more than for ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.

⁸ “Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently till she finds it?

⁹ “And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found the coin which I had lost!’

¹⁰ “Likewise I say to you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God for one sinner who converts.”