Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
11 In that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A (A)scorching wind from the bare heights in the wilderness in the direction of the daughter of My people—not to winnow and not to cleanse, 12 a wind too strong for [a]this—will come [b]at My command; now I will also pronounce judgments against them.
22 “(A)For My people are foolish,
They know Me not;
They are stupid children
And have no understanding.
They are shrewd to (B)do evil,
But to do good they do not know.”
23 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was [a](C) formless and void;
And to the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were (D)quaking,
And all the hills [b]moved to and fro.
25 I looked, and behold, there was no man,
And all the (E)birds of the heavens had fled.
26 I looked, and behold, [c]the (F)fruitful land was a wilderness,
And all its cities were pulled down
Before the Lord, before His fierce anger.
Folly and Wickedness of Men.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
14 The fool has (A)said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable [a]deeds;
There is (B)no one who does good.
2 The Lord has (C)looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who [b](D)understand,
Who (E)seek after God.
3 They have all (F)turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is (G)no one who does good, not even one.
12 I thank (A)Christ Jesus our Lord, who has (B)strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, (C)putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a (D)persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was (E)shown mercy because (F)I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the (G)grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the (H)faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 (I)It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that (J)Christ Jesus came into the world to (K)save sinners, among whom (L)I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I (M)found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might (N)demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those [a]who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the (O)King [b]eternal, (P)immortal, (Q)invisible, the (R)only God, (S)be honor and glory [c]forever and ever. Amen.
The Lost Sheep
15 Now all the (A)tax collectors and the [a]sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and (B)eats with them.”
3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 “(C)What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the [b]open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman, if she has ten [c]silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy (D)in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.