Day 28 of 365

¹He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!

²It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

³Be careful. If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.

⁴If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."

⁵The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

⁶The Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, 'Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

⁷But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down at the table,'

⁸and will not rather tell him, 'Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink'?

⁹Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded?

¹⁰Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.'"

¹¹It happened as he was on his way to Jerusalem, that he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.

¹²As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.

¹³They lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

¹⁴When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." It happened that as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.

¹⁶He fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷Jesus answered, "Weren't the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?

¹⁸Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?"

¹⁹Then he said to him, "Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you."

²⁰Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The Kingdom of God does not come with observation;

²¹neither will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'Look, there!' for the Kingdom of God is within you."

²²He said to the disciples, "The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.

²³And they will tell you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!' Do not go away, nor follow after them,

²⁴for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day.

²⁵But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

²⁶As it happened in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man.

²⁷They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

²⁸Likewise, even as it happened in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

²⁹but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky, and destroyed them all.

³⁰It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

³¹In that day, he who will be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back.

³²Remember Lot's wife!

³³Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.

³⁴I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. The one will be taken, and the other will be left.

³⁵There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other will be left."

³⁶No text for this verse number in this edition.

³⁷They, answering, asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there will the vultures also be gathered together."

¹He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,

²saying, "There was a judge in a certain city who did not fear God, and did not respect man.

³A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!'

⁴He would not for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,

⁵yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"

⁶The Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

⁷Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?

⁸I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

⁹He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.

¹⁰"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

¹²I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'

¹³But the tax collector, standing far away, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

¹⁵Now they were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

¹⁶Jesus summoned them, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

¹⁷Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it."

¹⁸A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

¹⁹Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one-God.

²⁰You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not give false testimony,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"

²¹He said, "I have observed all these things from my youth up."

²²When Jesus heard it, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me."

²³But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.

²⁴Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!

²⁵For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."

²⁶Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"

²⁷But he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

²⁸Peter said, "Look, we have left our homes and followed you."

²⁹He said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the Kingdom of God's sake,

³⁰who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life."

³¹He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.

³²For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.

³³They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again."

³⁴They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not understand the things that were said.

³⁵It happened, as he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.

³⁶Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.

³⁷They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

³⁸He called out, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"

³⁹Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he shouted all the more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"

⁴⁰Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,

⁴¹"What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."

⁴²Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."

⁴³And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.

¹He entered and was passing through Jericho.

²There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

³He was trying to see who Jesus was, and could not because of the crowd, because he was short.

⁴He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.

⁵When Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."

⁶He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully.

⁷And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner."

⁸Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much."

⁹Jesus said to him, "Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.

¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost."

¹¹As they heard these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God would be revealed immediately.

¹²He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

¹³He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, 'Conduct business until I come.'

¹⁴But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'

¹⁵"It happened when he had come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business.

¹⁶The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.'

¹⁷"He said to him, 'Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'

¹⁸"The second came, saying, 'Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.'

¹⁹"So he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'

²⁰Another came, saying, 'Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief,

²¹for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you did not lay down, and reap that which you did not sow.'

²²"He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I did not lay down, and reaping that which I did not sow.

²³Then why did you not deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?'

²⁴He said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas.'

²⁵"They said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'

²⁶'For I tell you that to everyone who has, will more be given; but from him who does not have, even that which he has will be taken away.

²⁷But bring those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.'"

²⁸Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

²⁹It happened, when he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples,

³⁰saying, "Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat. Untie it, and bring it.

³¹If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say to him: 'The Lord needs it.'"

³²Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them.

³³As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

³⁴They said, "The Lord needs it."

³⁵They brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on them.

³⁶As he went, they spread their cloaks in the way.

³⁷As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen,

³⁸saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!"

³⁹Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

⁴⁰He answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out."

⁴¹When he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it,

⁴²saying, "If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes.

⁴³For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side,

⁴⁴and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

⁴⁵He entered into the temple, and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,

⁴⁶saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of robbers'!"

⁴⁷He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him.

⁴⁸They could not find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.

¹To you, Lord, I call. My rock, do not be deaf to me; lest, if you are silent to me, I would become like those who go down into the pit.

²Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

³Do not draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.

⁴Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings. Give them according to the operation of their hands. Bring back on them what they deserve.

⁵Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he will break them down and not build them up.

⁶Blessed be the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my petitions.

⁷The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.

⁸The Lord is their strength. He is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed.

⁹Save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever.

¹The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

²In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

³A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.

⁴Those who forsake the Law praise the wicked; but those who keep the Law contend with them.

⁵Evil men do not understand justice; but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

⁶Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.

⁷Whoever keeps the Law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.

⁹He who turns away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.

¹¹The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

¹³He who conceals his sins doesn't prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

¹⁴Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

¹⁵As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.

¹⁶A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.

¹⁷A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.

¹⁸Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.

¹⁹One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

²⁰A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

²¹To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

²²A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn't know that poverty waits for him.

²³One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.

²⁴Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, "It's not wrong." He is a partner with a destroyer.

²⁵One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.

²⁶One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

²⁷One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.