Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
11 At that time the people of Judah and Jerusalem[a] will be told,
“A scorching wind will sweep down
from the hilltops in the wilderness on[b] my dear people.[c]
It will not be a gentle breeze
for winnowing the grain and blowing away the chaff.[d]
12 No,[e] a wind too strong for that will come at my bidding.
Yes, even now I, myself, am calling down judgment on them.[f]
22 The Lord answered,[a]
“This will happen[b] because my people are foolish.
They do not know me.
They are like children who have no sense.[c]
They have no understanding.
They are skilled at doing evil.
They do not know how to do good.”
23 I looked at the land and saw[d] that it was an empty wasteland.[e]
I looked up at the sky, and its light had vanished.
24 I looked at the mountains and saw that they were shaking.
All the hills were swaying back and forth!
25 I looked and saw that there were no more people[f]
and that all the birds in the sky had flown away.
26 I looked and saw that the fruitful land had become a desert
and that all the cities had been laid in ruins.
The Lord had brought this all about
because of his blazing anger.[g]
27 All this will happen because the Lord said,[h]
“The whole land will be desolate;
however, I will not completely destroy it.
28 Because of this the land will mourn
and the sky above will grow black.[i]
For I have made my purpose known,[j]
and I will not relent or turn back from carrying it out.”[k]
Psalm 14[a]
For the music director, by David.
14 Fools say to themselves,[b] “There is no God.”[c]
They sin and commit evil deeds;[d]
none of them does what is right.[e]
2 The Lord looks down from heaven[f] at the human race,[g]
to see if there is anyone who is wise[h] and seeks God.[i]
3 Everyone rejects God;[j]
they are all morally corrupt.[k]
None of them does what is right,[l]
not even one.
4 All those who behave wickedly[m] do not understand—[n]
those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,
and do not call out to the Lord.
5 They are absolutely terrified,[o]
for God defends the godly.[p]
6 You want to humiliate the oppressed,[q]
even though[r] the Lord is their[s] shelter.
7 I wish the deliverance[t] of Israel would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the well-being of his people,[u]
may Jacob rejoice,[v]
may Israel be happy![w]
12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant[a] man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.[b] 15 This saying[c] is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them![d] 16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that[e] in me as the worst,[f] Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the eternal king,[g] immortal, invisible, the only[h] God, be honor and glory forever and ever![i] Amen.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin
15 Now all the tax collectors[a] and sinners were coming[b] to hear him. 2 But[c] the Pharisees[d] and the experts in the law[e] were complaining,[f] “This man welcomes[g] sinners and eats with them.”
3 So[h] Jesus[i] told them[j] this parable:[k] 4 “Which one[l] of you, if he has a hundred[m] sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture[n] and go look for[o] the one that is lost until he finds it?[p] 5 Then[q] when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 Returning[r] home, he calls together[s] his[t] friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner[u] who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people[v] who have no need to repent.[w]
8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins[x] and loses[y] one of them,[z] does not light a lamp, sweep[aa] the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? 9 Then[ab] when she has found it, she calls together her[ac] friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice[ad] with me, for I have found the coin[ae] that I had lost.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels[af] over one sinner who repents.”
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