Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 19
For the Music Director. A Psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament shows His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,
and night unto night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech and there are no words;
their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them has He set a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
it rejoices as a strong man to run a race.
6 Its going forth is from one end of the heavens,
and its circuit extends to the other end,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the statutes of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the judgments of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
yes, than much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is Your servant warned,
and by keeping them comes great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be upright
and innocent from great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
as the rivers of water; He turns it to any place He will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 A high look, a proud heart,
and the plowing of the wicked are sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenty,
but of everyone who is hasty only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a vanity tossed back and forth by those who seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them,
because they refuse to do justice.
8 The way of a guilty man is perverse;
but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop
than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise;
and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked,
but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness.
13 Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor,
he also will cry himself, but will not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,
and a concealed bribe strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do justice,
but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding
will remain in the congregation of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
The Question of Jesus’ Authority(A)
23 When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question. If you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Where did the baptism of John come from? From heaven or from men?”
They reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for all hold John as a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.”
Then He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’
29 “He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he repented and went.
30 “Then he came to the second, and said likewise. He answered, ‘I will go, sir,’ but did not go.
31 “Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, the tax collectors and prostitutes enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.