[pg.2] - Revised Common Lectionary

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- PROPER 20
September 20, 2015
Year B, Revised Common Lectionary

[formatted version with line breaks and verse markers removed]

Table of Contents

 ”First” OT reading and Psalm – Major stories/themes, read mostly continuously: with Second
Reading and Gospel, Enhanced Font, Psalm in Poem Format, with Black and White Art Image
[pg.2]

 “Alternate First” OT reading and Psalm – Thematically pairs the OT readings with the Gospel
Reading: with Second Reading and Gospel, Enhanced Font, Psalm in Poem Format, with
Black and White Art Image [pg.3]

 Compact Double Column All Texts [pgs.4-5]

 Compact Triple Column All Texts [pgs.6-7]

 All Texts, Large Font [pgs.8-16]

From: Revised Common Lectionary, Vanderbilt Divinity Library
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- PROPER 20  but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on
September 20, 2015 his law they meditate day and night.
Year B, Revised Common Lectionary
 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which
Near Buckeye, Maricopa County, Arizona, Migrant Cotton yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not
Picker, Dorothea Lange, n.d., National Archives and Records
Administration, College Park, MD. wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the
Proverbs 31:10-31 A capable wife who can find? She is far
more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in wind drives away.
her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and
works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
she brings her food from far away. She rises while it is still  for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
night and provides food for her household and tasks for her
servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of but the way of the wicked will perish.
her hands she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with
strength, and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a Who is wise and understanding
merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. among you? Show by your good life that your works are done
She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy
spindle. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and
hands to the needy. She is not afraid for her household when false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from
it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson. She above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is
makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and
Her husband is known in the city gates, taking his seat among wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first
the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and
them; she supplies the merchant with sashes. Strength and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a
dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of peace. Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they
kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at
household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children war within you? You want something and do not have it; so
rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot
her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not
them all." Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive,
who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her a share in the because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on
fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city your pleasures. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the
gates. devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will
draw near to you.
Psalm 1
 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the Mark 9:30-37 They went on from there and passed
wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in
the seat of scoffers; through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he

was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is

to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and

three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did

not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask

him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the

house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the

way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued

with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called

the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must

be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and

put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them,

"Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me,

and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who

sent me."

____________________________________________________________________________

Texts in italics: complementary to standard reading, may be
used with or in place of it.
More, including NRSV and RCL permissions, at
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- PROPER 20 heart and the mind, let me see your retribution upon them, for
September 20, 2015 to you I have committed my cause.
Year B, Revised Common Lectionary
Psalm 54
Near Buckeye, Maricopa County, Arizona, Migrant Cotton  Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by
Picker, Dorothea Lange, n.d., National Archives and Records
Administration, College Park, MD. your might.
 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my
Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22 But the ungodly by their
words and deeds summoned death; considering him a friend, mouth.
they pined away and made a covenant with him, because they  For the insolent have risen against me, the ruthless
are fit to belong to his company. For they reasoned unsoundly,
saying to themselves, "Short and sorrowful is our life, and seek my life; they do not set God before them. Selah
there is no remedy when a life comes to its end, and no one  But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder
has been known to return from Hades. "Let us lie in wait for
the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and of my life.
opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law,  He will repay my enemies for their evil. In your
and accuses us of sins against our training. He professes to
have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. faithfulness, put an end to them.
He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of  With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will
him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that
of others, and his ways are strange. We are considered by him give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.
as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls  For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my
the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his
father. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is
God's child, he will help him, and will deliver him from the James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a Who is wise and understanding
hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, among you? Show by your good life that your works are done
so that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy
forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and
according to what he says, he will be protected." Thus they false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from
reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is
blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and
God, nor hoped for the wages of holiness, nor discerned the wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first
prize for blameless souls. pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and
good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a
Jeremiah 11:18-20 It was the LORD who made it known to harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make
me, and I knew; then you showed me their evil deeds. But I peace. Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they
was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. And I did not know come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at
it was against me that they devised schemes, saying, "Let us war within you? You want something and do not have it; so
destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot
of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered!" obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not
But you, O LORD of hosts, who judge righteously, who try the have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on
your pleasures. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will
draw near to you.

Mark 9:30-37 They went on from there and passed

through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he

was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is

to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and

three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did

not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask

him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the

house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the

way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued

with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called

the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must

be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and

put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them,

"Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me,

and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who

sent me."

____________________________________________________________________________

Texts in gray: Alternate first reading and Psalm
Texts in italics: complementary to standard reading, may be
used with or in place of it.
More, including NRSV and RCL permissions, at

http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- PROPER 20 help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his
September 20, 2015 adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, so that
Year B, Revised Common Lectionary we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his
forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for,
Proverbs 31:10-31 A capable wife who can find? She is
far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband according to what he says, he will be protected." Thus they
trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness
good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of
and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of God, nor hoped for the wages of holiness, nor discerned the
the merchant, she brings her food from far away. She rises prize for blameless souls.
while it is still night and provides food for her household and
tasks for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; Jeremiah 11:18-20 It was the LORD who made it known to
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She girds me, and I knew; then you showed me their evil deeds. But I
herself with strength, and makes her arms strong. She was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. And I did not
perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does know it was against me that they devised schemes, saying,
not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from
hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor, and the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be
reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid for her remembered!" But you, O LORD of hosts, who judge
household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in righteously, who try the heart and the mind, let me see your
crimson. She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.
linen and purple. Her husband is known in the city gates,
taking his seat among the elders of the land. She makes Psalm 54 Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate
linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the
with sashes. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she
laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with words of my mouth. For the insolent have risen against me,
wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She the ruthless seek my life; they do not set God before them.
looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the
bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her happy; Selah But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder
her husband too, and he praises her: "Many women have of my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. In your
done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is
deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the faithfulness, put an end to them. With a freewill offering I will
LORD is to be praised. Give her a share in the fruit of her sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it
hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.
is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my
Psalm 1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the
seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the LORD, James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a Who is wise and understanding
and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like among you? Show by your good life that your works are done
trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy
season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and
they prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from
the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is
the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and
righteous; for the LORD watches over the way of the wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first
righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy
and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And
Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22 But the ungodly by a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who
their words and deeds summoned death; considering him a make peace. Those conflicts and disputes among you, where
friend, they pined away and made a covenant with him, do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings
because they are fit to belong to his company. For they that are at war within you? You want something and do not
reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, "Short and have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and
sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a life cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You
comes to its end, and no one has been known to return from do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not
Hades. "Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you
is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches get on your pleasures. Submit yourselves therefore to God.
us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God,
our training. He professes to have knowledge of God, and and he will draw near to you.
calls himself a child of the Lord. He became to us a reproof of
our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because Mark 9:30-37 They went on from there and passed
his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are
strange. We are considered by him as something base, and through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he
he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the
righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father. Let us see was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man
if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the
end of his life; for if the righteous man is God's child, he will is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him,

and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they

did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to

ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in

the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on

the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had

argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down,

called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be

first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a

little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, Texts in gray: Alternate first reading and Psalm
he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my Texts in italics: complementary to standard reading, may be
name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes used with or in place of it.
not me but the one who sent me." More, including NRSV and RCL permissions, at

___________________________________________________ http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER the wicked will not stand in the see your retribution upon them, for to
PENTECOST -- PROPER 20 judgment, nor sinners in the you I have committed my cause.
September 20, 2015 congregation of the righteous; for the
Year B, Revised Common Lectionary LORD watches over the way of the Psalm 54 Save me, O God, by your
righteous, but the way of the wicked name, and vindicate me by your might.
Proverbs 31:10-31 A capable wife will perish. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the
who can find? She is far more precious words of my mouth. For the insolent
than jewels. The heart of her husband Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22 have risen against me, the ruthless
trusts in her, and he will have no lack But the ungodly by their words and seek my life; they do not set God
of gain. She does him good, and not deeds summoned death; considering before them. Selah But surely, God is
harm, all the days of her life. She him a friend, they pined away and my helper; the Lord is the upholder of
seeks wool and flax, and works with made a covenant with him, because my life. He will repay my enemies for
willing hands. She is like the ships of they are fit to belong to his company. their evil. In your faithfulness, put an
the merchant, she brings her food from For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to end to them. With a freewill offering I
far away. She rises while it is still night themselves, "Short and sorrowful is our will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to
and provides food for her household life, and there is no remedy when a life your name, O LORD, for it is good. For
and tasks for her servant girls. She comes to its end, and no one has been he has delivered me from every
considers a field and buys it; with the known to return from Hades. "Let us lie trouble, and my eye has looked in
fruit of her hands she plants a in wait for the righteous man, because triumph on my enemies.
vineyard. She girds herself with he is inconvenient to us and opposes
strength, and makes her arms strong. our actions; he reproaches us for sins James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a Who is wise
She perceives that her merchandise is against the law, and accuses us of sins and understanding among you? Show
profitable. Her lamp does not go out at against our training. He professes to by your good life that your works are
night. She puts her hands to the have knowledge of God, and calls done with gentleness born of wisdom.
distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. himself a child of the Lord. He became But if you have bitter envy and selfish
She opens her hand to the poor, and to us a reproof of our thoughts; the ambition in your hearts, do not be
reaches out her hands to the needy. very sight of him is a burden to us, boastful and false to the truth. Such
She is not afraid for her household because his manner of life is unlike wisdom does not come down from
when it snows, for all her household that of others, and his ways are above, but is earthly, unspiritual,
are clothed in crimson. She makes strange. We are considered by him as devilish. For where there is envy and
herself coverings; her clothing is fine something base, and he avoids our selfish ambition, there will also be
linen and purple. Her husband is ways as unclean; he calls the last end disorder and wickedness of every kind.
known in the city gates, taking his seat of the righteous happy, and boasts that But the wisdom from above is first
among the elders of the land. She God is his father. Let us see if his pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to
makes linen garments and sells them; words are true, and let us test what will yield, full of mercy and good fruits,
she supplies the merchant with happen at the end of his life; for if the without a trace of partiality or
sashes. Strength and dignity are her righteous man is God's child, he will hypocrisy. And a harvest of
clothing, and she laughs at the time to help him, and will deliver him from the righteousness is sown in peace for
come. She opens her mouth with hand of his adversaries. Let us test those who make peace. Those
wisdom, and the teaching of kindness him with insult and torture, so that we conflicts and disputes among you,
is on her tongue. She looks well to the may find out how gentle he is, and where do they come from? Do they not
ways of her household, and does not make trial of his forbearance. Let us come from your cravings that are at
eat the bread of idleness. Her children condemn him to a shameful death, for, war within you? You want something
rise up and call her happy; her according to what he says, he will be and do not have it; so you commit
husband too, and he praises her: protected." Thus they reasoned, but murder. And you covet something and
"Many women have done excellently, they were led astray, for their cannot obtain it; so you engage in
but you surpass them all." Charm is wickedness blinded them, and they did disputes and conflicts. You do not
deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a not know the secret purposes of God, have, because you do not ask. You ask
woman who fears the LORD is to be nor hoped for the wages of holiness, and do not receive, because you ask
praised. Give her a share in the fruit of nor discerned the prize for blameless wrongly, in order to spend what you get
her hands, and let her works praise her souls. on your pleasures. Submit yourselves
in the city gates. therefore to God. Resist the devil, and
Jeremiah 11:18-20 It was the LORD he will flee from you. Draw near to God,
Psalm 1 Happy are those who do who made it known to me, and I knew; and he will draw near to you.
not follow the advice of the wicked, or then you showed me their evil deeds.
take the path that sinners tread, or sit But I was like a gentle lamb led to the Mark 9:30-37 They went on from
in the seat of scoffers; but their delight slaughter. And I did not know it was there and passed through Galilee. He
is in the law of the LORD, and on his against me that they devised schemes, did not want anyone to know it; for he
law they meditate day and night. They saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its was teaching his disciples, saying to
are like trees planted by streams of fruit, let us cut him off from the land of them, "The Son of Man is to be
water, which yield their fruit in its the living, so that his name will no betrayed into human hands, and they
season, and their leaves do not wither. longer be remembered!" But you, O will kill him, and three days after being
In all that they do, they prosper. The LORD of hosts, who judge righteously, killed, he will rise again." But they did
wicked are not so, but are like chaff who try the heart and the mind, let me not understand what he was saying
that the wind drives away. Therefore and were afraid to ask him. Then they

came to Capernaum; and when he was
in the house he asked them, "What
were you arguing about on the way?"
But they were silent, for on the way
they had argued with one another who
was the greatest. He sat down, called
the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever
wants to be first must be last of all and
servant of all." Then he took a little
child and put it among them; and
taking it in his arms, he said to them,
"Whoever welcomes one such child in
my name welcomes me, and whoever
welcomes me welcomes not me but
the one who sent me."
_________________________________

Texts in gray: Alternate first reading
and Psalm
Texts in italics: complementary to
standard reading, may be used with or
in place of it.
More, including NRSV and RCL
permissions, at
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST --
PROPER 20

September 20, 2015
Year B, Revised Common Lectionary

Proverbs 31:10-31 A capable wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her
husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her
life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing
hands. She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings
her food from far away. She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household and tasks for her
servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; with the
fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She girds
herself with strength, and makes her arms strong. She
perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp
does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the

distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her
hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the
needy. She is not afraid for her household when it
snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson.
She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen
and purple. Her husband is known in the city gates,
taking his seat among the elders of the land. She
makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the
merchant with sashes. Strength and dignity are her
clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She
opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of
kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways
of her household, and does not eat the bread of
idleness. Her children rise up and call her happy; her
husband too, and he praises her: "Many women have
done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is
deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears
the LORD is to be praised. Give her a share in the fruit

of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city
gates.

Psalm 1 Happy are those who do not follow the

advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners

tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is

in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate

day and night. They are like trees planted by streams

of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their

leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind

drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the

judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the

righteous; for the LORD watches over the way of the

righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22 But the
ungodly by their words and deeds summoned death;

considering him a friend, they pined away and made a
covenant with him, because they are fit to belong to
his company. For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to
themselves, "Short and sorrowful is our life, and there
is no remedy when a life comes to its end, and no one
has been known to return from Hades. "Let us lie in
wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient
to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for
sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our
training. He professes to have knowledge of God, and
calls himself a child of the Lord. He became to us a
reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a
burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that
of others, and his ways are strange. We are considered
by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as
unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy,
and boasts that God is his father. Let us see if his
words are true, and let us test what will happen at the

end of his life; for if the righteous man is God's child,
he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of
his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture,
so that we may find out how gentle he is, and make
trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a
shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will
be protected." Thus they reasoned, but they were led
astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did
not know the secret purposes of God, nor hoped for
the wages of holiness, nor discerned the prize for
blameless souls.

Jeremiah 11:18-20 It was the LORD who made it
known to me, and I knew; then you showed me their
evil deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the
slaughter. And I did not know it was against me that
they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the tree
with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the

living, so that his name will no longer be
remembered!" But you, O LORD of hosts, who judge
righteously, who try the heart and the mind, let me see
your retribution upon them, for to you I have
committed my cause.

Psalm 54 Save me, O God, by your name, and
vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God;
give ear to the words of my mouth. For the insolent
have risen against me, the ruthless seek my life; they
do not set God before them. Selah But surely, God is
my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will
repay my enemies for their evil. In your faithfulness,
put an end to them. With a freewill offering I will
sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O
LORD, for it is good. For he has delivered me from
every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my
enemies.

James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a Who is wise and

understanding among you? Show by your good life

that your works are done with gentleness born of

wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish

ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to

the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from

above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where

there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be

disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom

from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing

to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace

of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of

righteousness is sown in peace for those who make

peace. Those conflicts and disputes among you, where

do they come from? Do they not come from your

cravings that are at war within you? You want

something and do not have it; so you commit murder.

And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you
engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have,
because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you
get on your pleasures. Submit yourselves therefore to
God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw
near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Mark 9:30-37 They went on from there and

passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to

know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to

them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human

hands, and they will kill him, and three days after

being killed, he will rise again." But they did not

understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask

him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was

in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing

about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the

way they had argued with one another who was the
greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to
them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all
and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it
among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to
them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name
welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes
not me but the one who sent me."
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Texts in gray: Alternate first reading and Psalm

Texts in italics: complementary to standard reading,
may be used with or in place of it.

More, including NRSV and RCL permissions, at
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu