Friday 18 August 2000

1Again the Lord’s word came to me, saying,2“Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations;3and say, ‘The Lord GOD says to Jerusalem:“Your originand your birth is of the land of the Canaanite.An Amorite was your father, and your mother was a Hittite.4As for your birth,in the day you were born your navel was not cut.You weren’t washed in water to cleanse you.You weren’t salted at all, nor wrapped in blankets at all.5No eye pitied you,to do any of these things to you,to have compassion on you;but you were cast out in the open field,because you were abhorred in the day that you were born.

6“‘“When I passed by you,and saw you wallowing in your blood,I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’Yes, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’7I caused you to multiply as that which grows in the field,and you increased and grew great,and you attained to excellent beauty.Your breasts were formed, and your hair grew;yet you were naked and bare.

8“‘“Now when I passed by you,and looked at you,behold, your time was the time of love;and I spread my garment over youand covered your nakedness.Yes, I pledged myself to youand entered into a covenant with you,”says the Lord GOD,“and you became mine.

9“‘“Then I washed you with water.Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you,and I anointed you with oil.10I clothed you also with embroidered workand put leather sandals on you.I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.11I decked you with ornaments,put bracelets on your hands,and put a chain on your neck.12I put a ring on your nose,earrings in your ears,and a beautiful crown on your head.13Thus you were decked with gold and silver.Your clothing was of fine linen,silk, and embroidered work.You ate fine flour, honey, and oil.You were exceedingly beautiful,and you prospered to royal estate.14Your renown went out among the nations for your beauty;for it was perfect,through my majesty which I had put on you,”says the Lord GOD.

15“‘“But you trusted in your beauty,and played the prostitute because of your renown,and poured out your prostitution on everyonewho passed by. It was his.· · · verses 16–59 are not read60Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth,and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.· · · verses 61–62 are not read63that you may remember,and be confounded,and never open your mouth any more because of your shame,when I have forgiven you all that you have done,”says the Lord GOD.’”

2Behold, God is my salvation.I will trust, and will not be afraid;for the Lord, the Lord, is my strength and song;and he has become my salvation.”3Therefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation.

4In that day you will say, “Give thanks to the Lord!Call on his name!Declare his doings among the peoples!Proclaim that his name is exalted!

5Sing to the Lord, for he has done excellent things!Let this be known in all the earth!6Cry aloud and shout,you inhabitant of Zion,for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”

3Pharisees came to him,testing him and saying,“Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

4He answered, “Haven’t you read that hewho made them from the beginning made them male and female,5and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother,and shall be joined to his wife;and the two shall become one flesh’?6So that they are no more two, but one flesh.What therefore God has joined together,don’t let man tear apart.”

7They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”

8He said to them, “Moses,because of the hardness of your hearts,allowed you to divorce your wives,but from the beginning it has not been so.9I tell you that whoever divorces his wife,except for sexual immorality,and marries another, commits adultery;and he who marries herwhen she is divorced commits adultery.”

10His disciples said to him,“If this is the case of the man with his wife,it is not expedient to marry.”

11But he said to them,“Not all men can receive this saying,but those to whom it is given.12For there are eunuchs who were bornthat way from their mother’s womb,and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men;and there are eunuchswho made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake.He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”