Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
2 The entire Israelite community grumbled(A) against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!” (B)
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.(C) 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.”[a]
6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt,(D) 7 and in the morning you will see the Lord’s glory because he has heard your complaints about him. For who are we that you complain about us?” (E) 8 Moses continued, “The Lord will give you meat to eat this evening and all the bread you want in the morning, for he has heard the complaints that you are raising against him. Who are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord.”(F)
9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your complaints.’” 10 As Aaron was speaking to the entire Israelite community, they turned toward the wilderness, and there in a cloud the Lord’s glory appeared.(G)
11 The Lord spoke to Moses, 12 “I have heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them: At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat bread until you are full. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
13 So at evening quail(H) came and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew evaporated, there were fine flakes on the desert surface, as fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” because they didn’t know what it was.
Moses told them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.(I)
Psalm 105
God’s Faithfulness to His People
1 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
proclaim his deeds among the peoples.(A)
2 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell about all his wondrous works!(B)
3 Boast in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.(C)
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.(D)
5 Remember the wondrous works he has done,
his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced,[a](E)
6 you offspring of Abraham his servant,
Jacob’s descendants—his chosen ones.(F)
37 Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold,
and no one among his tribes stumbled.(A)
38 Egypt was glad when they left,
for the dread of Israel[a] had fallen on them.(B)
39 He spread a cloud as a covering
and gave a fire to light up the night.(C)
40 They asked, and he brought quail
and satisfied them with bread from heaven.(D)
41 He opened a rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed like a stream in the desert.(E)
42 For he remembered his holy promise
to Abraham his servant.(F)
43 He brought his people out with rejoicing,
his chosen ones with shouts of joy.(G)
44 He gave them the lands of the nations,
and they inherited
what other peoples had worked for.(H)
45 All this happened
so that they might keep his statutes
and obey his instructions.(I)
Hallelujah!
Living Is Christ
21 For me, to live is Christ(A) and to die is gain.(B) 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful(C) work(D) for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ(E)—which is far better(F)— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,(G) 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting(H) in Christ Jesus(I) may abound.
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life(J) worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm(K) in one(L) spirit, in one accord,[a] contending together for the faith(M) of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents.(N) This is a sign of destruction for them,(O) but of your salvation(P)—and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe(Q) in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.
The Parable of the Vineyard Workers
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.(A) 2 After agreeing with the workers on one denarius,[a] he sent them into his vineyard for the day. 3 When he went out about nine in the morning,[b] he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He said to them, ‘You also go into my vineyard, and I’ll give you whatever is right.’ So off they went. 5 About noon and about three,[c] he went out again and did the same thing. 6 Then about five[d] he went and found others standing around[e] and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one hired us,’ they said to him.
“‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he told them.[f] 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and give them their pay,(B) starting with the last and ending with the first.’
9 “When those who were hired about five came, they each received one denarius. 10 So when the first ones came, they assumed they would get more, but they also received a denarius each. 11 When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner: 12 ‘These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day’s work and the burning heat.’(C)
13 “He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius?(D) 14 Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Are you jealous[g] because I’m generous?’[h](E)
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