Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

142 ^1-2 How I plead with God, how I implore his mercy, pouring out my troubles before him. ³ For I am overwhelmed and desperate, and you alone know which way I ought to turn to miss the traps my enemies have set for me. ⁴ (There’s one—just over there to the right!) No one gives me a passing thought. No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. ⁵ Then I prayed to Jehovah. “Lord,” I pled, “you are my only place of refuge. Only you can keep me safe.

⁶ “Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. ⁷ Bring me out of prison so that I can thank you. The godly will rejoice with me for all your help.”

¹⁷ Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit; though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, ¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be happy in the God of my salvation. ¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength; he will give me the speed of a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.

(A note to the choir director: When singing this ode, the choir is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)

¹¹ And because Jesus was nearing Jerusalem, he told a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.

¹² “A nobleman living in a certain province was called away to the distant capital of the empire to be crowned king of his province. ¹³ Before he left he called together ten assistants and gave them each $2,000 to invest while he was gone. ¹⁴ But some of his people hated him and sent him their declaration of independence, stating that they had rebelled and would not acknowledge him as their king.

¹⁵ “Upon his return he called in the men to whom he had given the money, to find out what they had done with it, and what their profits were.

¹⁶ “The first man reported a tremendous gain—ten times as much as the original amount!

¹⁷ “‘Fine!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good man. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, and as your reward, you shall be governor of ten cities.’

¹⁸ “The next man also reported a splendid gain—five times the original amount.

¹⁹ “‘All right!’ his master said. ‘You can be governor over five cities.’

²⁰ “But the third man brought back only the money he had started with. ‘I’ve kept it safe,’ he said, ²¹ ‘because I was afraid you would demand my profits, for you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and even confiscating the crops that others plant.’ ²² ‘You vile and wicked slave,’ the king roared. ‘Hard, am I? That’s exactly how I’ll be toward you! If you knew so much about me and how tough I am, ²³ then why didn’t you deposit the money in the bank so that I could at least get some interest on it?’

²⁴ “Then turning to the others standing by he ordered, ‘Take the money away from him and give it to the man who earned the most.’

²⁵ “‘But, sir,’ they said, ‘he has enough already!’

²⁶ “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘but it is always true that those who have, get more, and those who have little, soon lose even that. ²⁷ And now about these enemies of mine who revolted—bring them in and execute them before me.’”