Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Call of Wisdom
20 (A)Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at (B)the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O (C)simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will (D)scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools (E)hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,[a]
behold, I will (F)pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 (G)Because I have called and (H)you refused to listen,
have (I)stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have (J)ignored all my counsel
and (K)would have none of my reproof,
26 I also (L)will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when (M)terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like (N)a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 (O)Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they (P)hated knowledge
and (Q)did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 (R)would have none of my counsel
and (S)despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat (T)the fruit of their way,
and have (U)their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by (V)their turning away,
and (W)the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but (X)whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be (Y)at ease, without dread of disaster.”
The Law of the Lord Is Perfect
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
19 (A)The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 (B)Their (C)voice[b] goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for (D)the sun,
5 (E)which comes out like (F)a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 (G)The law of the Lord is perfect,[c]
(H)reviving the soul;
(I)the testimony of the Lord is (J)sure,
(K)making wise (L)the simple;
8 (M)the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is (N)pure,
(O)enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules[d] of the Lord are (P)true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than (Q)gold,
even much (R)fine gold;
(S)sweeter also than honey
and drippings of (T)the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
(U)in keeping them there is great reward.
Taming the Tongue
3 (A)Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For (B)we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, (C)he is a perfect man, (D)able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put (E)bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet (F)it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And (G)the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, (H)staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell.[b] 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, (I)full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people (J)who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,[c] these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
27 (A)And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, (B)“John the Baptist; and others say, (C)Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, (D)“You are (E)the Christ.” 30 (F)And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
31 (G)And he began to teach them that (H)the Son of Man must (I)suffer many things and (J)be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and (K)after three days rise again. 32 And he said this (L)plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, (M)“Get behind me, Satan! For you (N)are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him (O)deny himself and (P)take up his cross and follow me. 35 For (Q)whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake (R)and the gospel's will save it. 36 (S)For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For (T)what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For (U)whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this (V)adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed (W)when he comes in the glory of his Father with (X)the holy angels.”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.