Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 14[a]
Corruption and Punishment of the Godless
1 For the director.[b] Of David.
The fool says in his heart,[c]
“There is no God.”
People are depraved and their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does what is right.
2 The Lord[d] looks down from heaven
upon the entire human race,
to see if there are any who act with wisdom,
if even a single one seeks God.
3 But they have all left the right path;
all alike are corrupt.
There is no one who does what is right,
not even one.[e]
4 Have all these evildoers[f] no understanding?
They devour my people as they eat bread,
and they never call upon the Lord.
5 But later they will be filled with terror,
for God is on the side of the righteous.[g]
6 They sought to crush the hopes of the poor,[h]
but the Lord is their refuge.
7 Who will accomplish the salvation of Israel
that is to come out of Zion?[i]
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice and Israel will exult.
Jerusalem’s Shame
20 Lift up your eyes and behold
those who are coming from the north.
Where is the flock that was entrusted to you,
the sheep that were your pride?
21 What will you say when they appoint as your rulers
those whom you chose as your allies?
Will not pangs seize you
like those of a woman in labor?
22 And if you should ask yourself,
“Why has all this happened to me?”
it is because of your many grievous sins
that your skirts have been stripped away
and you have been violated.
23 Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin
or a leopard change its spots?
Neither are you able to do good
when you are schooled in evil.
24 I will scatter you like chaff
that is driven by the desert wind.
25 This is your lot, says the Lord,
the portion I have measured out to you,
because you have forgotten me
and placed your trust in false gods.
26 I myself will tear off your skirts
so that your shame will be seen.
27 Your adulteries, your cries of lustful pleasure,
your shameless acts of prostitution:
all these abominable deeds of yours
I have observed on the hills of the countryside.
Woe to you, Jerusalem!
How long will it be
before you are made clean?
Chapter 1
Salutation[a]
Address. 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior[b] and Christ Jesus our hope, 2 to Timothy, my loyal child in the faith: grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Timothy, Champion of the Truth[c]
On Holding Fast to Sound Doctrine. When I was setting out for Macedonia,[d] I urged you to stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people that they are not to teach erroneous doctrines 4 and not to concern themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies and do not produce godly edification in faith.5 The aim of this instruction is love that derives from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 6 Some people have departed from these and turned to empty speculation, 7 desiring to be teachers of the Law; but they understand neither the words they are using nor the matters about which they make such confident assertions.
Purpose of the Law. 8 We are well aware that the Law is good, provided that one uses it properly, 9 recognizing that laws are not designed for the upright. They are for the lawless and insubordinate, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and irreligious; they are for those who slay their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for those who are fornicators, sodomites,[e] slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which has been entrusted to me.
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