Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
4 Hear the word of the Lord, house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 This is what the Lord says:
“(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 person lived?’
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 you made My inheritance 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 revolted against Me,
And the (I)prophets prophesied by Baal
And walked after (J)things that were of no benefit.
9 “Therefore I will still (K)contend with you,” declares the Lord,
“And I will contend with your sons’ sons.
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 anything like this!
11 Has a nation changed gods,
When (N)they were not gods?
But My people have (O)exchanged their glory
For that which is of no benefit.
12 Be appalled at this, (P)you heavens,
And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord.
13 “For My people have committed two evils:
They have abandoned Me,
The (Q)fountain of living waters,
To carve out for themselves (R)cisterns,
Broken cisterns
That do not hold 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 by their own plans.
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 to obey 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 brothers and sisters continue. 2 Do not neglect (B)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 badly 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 God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 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 abandon 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 way of life, (N)imitate their faith. 8 (O)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.
Parable of the Guests
7 Now He began telling 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 “Whenever 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 the one who invited you [b]both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then (C)in disgrace you will proceed to occupy the last place. 10 But whenever you are invited, go and [c]take the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, (D)move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are [d]dining at the table with you. 11 (E)For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
12 Now He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “Whenever you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor wealthy neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you to a meal in return, and that will be your [e]repayment. 13 But whenever you give a [f]banquet, invite people who are poor, who have disabilities, who are limping, and people who are blind; 14 and you will be blessed, since they [g]do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at (F)the resurrection of the righteous.”
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