Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹¹ At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem: “A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of My people — not to fan, nor to cleanse —

¹² even a full wind from those places shall come unto Me. Now also will I give sentence against them.”

²² “For My people are foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”

²³ I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

²⁴ I beheld the mountains, and lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

²⁵ I beheld, and lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens had fled.

²⁶ I beheld, and lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord and by His fierce anger.

²⁷ For thus hath the Lord said: “The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

²⁸ For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black, because I have spoken it; I have purposed it and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

14 The fool hath said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; they have done abominable works; there is none that doeth good.

² The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God.

³ They have all turned aside; they are all together become filthy. There is none that doeth good; no, not one.

⁴ Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread and call not upon the Lord?

⁵ There were they in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous.

⁶ Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge.

⁷ Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When the Lord bringeth back His people from captivity, Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad.

¹² And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry—

¹³ I, who was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;

¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love, which are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

¹⁶ Nonetheless, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering as a pattern for those who should hereafter believe in Him to life everlasting.

¹⁷ Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

15 Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners to hear Him.

² And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.”

³ And He spoke this parable unto them, saying,

⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it?

⁵ And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

⁶ And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

⁷ I say unto you that likewise more joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance.

⁸ “Or what woman, having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently until she find it?

⁹ And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost!’

¹⁰ Likewise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”