Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord,
“(A)What injustice did your fathers find in Me,
That they went far from Me
And walked after (B)emptiness and became empty?
6 “They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord
Who (C)brought us up out of the land of Egypt,
Who (D)led us through the wilderness,
Through a land of deserts and of pits,
Through a land of drought and of [a]deep darkness,
Through a land that no one crossed
And where no man dwelt?’
7 “I brought you into the (E)fruitful land
To eat its fruit and its good things.
But you came and (F)defiled My land,
And My inheritance you made an abomination.
8 “The (G)priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’
And those who handle the law (H)did not know Me;
The [b]rulers also transgressed against Me,
And the (I)prophets prophesied by Baal
And walked after (J)things that did not profit.
9 “Therefore I will yet (K)contend with you,” declares the Lord,
“And with your sons’ sons I will contend.
10 “For (L)cross to the coastlands of [c]Kittim and see,
And send to (M)Kedar and observe closely
And see if there has been such a thing as this!
11 “Has a nation changed gods
When (N)they were not gods?
But My people have (O)changed their glory
For that which does not profit.
12 “Be appalled, (P)O heavens, at this,
And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord.
13 “For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me,
The (Q)fountain of living waters,
To hew for themselves (R)cisterns,
Broken cisterns
That can hold no water.
10 “(A)I, the Lord, am your God,
Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;
(B)Open your mouth wide and I will (C)fill it.
11 “But My people (D)did not listen to My voice,
And Israel did not [a]obey Me.
12 “So I (E)gave [b]them over to the stubbornness of their heart,
To walk in their own devices.
13 “Oh that My people (F)would listen to Me,
That Israel would (G)walk in My ways!
14 “I would quickly (H)subdue their enemies
And (I)turn My hand against their adversaries.
15 “(J)Those who hate the Lord would (K)pretend obedience to Him,
And their time of punishment would be forever.
16 “[c]But I would feed you with the [d](L)finest of the wheat,
And with (M)honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
The Changeless Christ
13 Let (A)love of the brethren continue. 2 Do not neglect to (B)show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have (C)entertained angels without knowing it. 3 (D)Remember (E)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 (F)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; (G)for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 5 Make sure that your character is (H)free from the love of money, (I)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “(J)I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say,
“(K)The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”
7 Remember (L)those who led you, who spoke (M)the word of God to you; and considering the [a]result of their conduct, (N)imitate their faith. 8 (O)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Parable of the Guests
7 And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how (A)they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, (B)do not [a]take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then (C)in disgrace you [b]proceed to occupy the last place. 10 But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, (D)move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who [c]are at the table with you. 11 (E)For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 But when you give a [d]reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they [e]do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at (F)the resurrection of the righteous.”
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