Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
For the choir director; a psalm by David.
19 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky displays what his hands have made.
2 One day tells a story to the next.
One night shares knowledge with the next
3 without talking,
without words,
without their voices being heard.
4 ⌞Yet,⌟ their sound has gone out into the entire world,
their message to the ends of the earth.
He has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun,
5 which comes out of its chamber like a bridegroom.
Like a champion, it is eager to run its course.
6 It rises from one end of the heavens.
It circles around to the other.
Nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The teachings of the Lord are perfect.
They renew the soul.
The testimony of the Lord is dependable.
It makes gullible people wise.
8 The instructions of the Lord are correct.
They make the heart rejoice.
The command of the Lord is radiant.
It makes the eyes shine.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure.
It endures forever.
The decisions of the Lord are true.
They are completely fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey, even the drippings from a honeycomb.
11 As your servant I am warned by them.
There is a great reward in following them.
12 Who can notice every mistake?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep me from sinning.
Do not let anyone gain control over me.
Then I will be blameless,
and I will be free from any great offense.
14 May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my defender.
The Lord Controls Wise and Foolish People
21 The king’s heart is like streams of water.
Both are under the Lord’s control.
He turns them in any direction he chooses.
2 A person thinks everything he does is right,
but the Lord weighs hearts.
3 Doing what is right and fair
is more acceptable to the Lord than offering a sacrifice.
4 A conceited look and an arrogant attitude,
which are the lamps of wicked people, are sins.
5 The plans of a hard-working person lead to prosperity,
but everyone who is ⌞always⌟ in a hurry ends up in poverty.
6 Those who gather wealth by lying are wasting time.
They are looking for death.
7 The violence of wicked people will drag them away
since they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of a guilty person is crooked,
but the behavior of those who are pure is moral.
9 Better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a home with a quarreling woman.
10 The mind of a wicked person desires evil
and has no consideration for his neighbor.
11 When a mocker is punished, a gullible person becomes wise,
and when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 A righteous person wisely considers the house of a wicked person.
He throws wicked people into disasters.
13 Whoever shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will call and not be answered.
14 A gift ⌞given⌟ in secret calms anger,
and a secret bribe calms great fury.
15 When justice is done, a righteous person is delighted,
but troublemakers are terrified.
16 A person who wanders from the way of wise behavior
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.
Whoever loves wine and expensive food will not become rich.
Jesus’ Authority Challenged(A)
23 Then Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priests and the leaders of the people came to him. They asked, “What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?”
24 Jesus answered them, “I, too, have a question for you. If you answer it for me, I’ll tell you why I have the right to do these things. 25 Did John’s right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?”
They discussed this among themselves. They said, “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘from humans,’ we’re afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Jesus told them, “Then I won’t tell you why I have the right to do these things.
A Story about Two Sons
28 “What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go to work in the vineyard today.’
29 “His son replied, ‘I don’t want to!’ But later he changed his mind and went.
30 “The father went to the other son and told him the same thing. He replied, ‘I will, sir,’ but he didn’t go.
31 “Which of the two sons did what the father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Tax collectors and prostitutes are going into God’s kingdom ahead of you. 32 John came to you and showed you the way that God wants you to live, but you didn’t believe him. The tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. But even after you had seen that, you didn’t change your minds and believe him.
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