Thursday 14 August 2014

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.’”

56Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God,and didn’t keep his testimonies,57but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers.They were twisted like a deceitful bow.

58For they provoked him to anger with their high places,and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.59When God heard this, he was angry,and greatly abhorred Israel,

61and delivered his strength into captivity,his glory into the adversary’s hand.62He also gave his people over to the sword,and was angry with his inheritance.

21Then Peter came and said to him,“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me,and I forgive him?Until seven times?”

22Jesus said to him,“I don’t tell you until seven times,but, until seventy times seven.23Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain kingwho wanted to settle accounts with his servants.24When he had begun to settle,one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.25But because he couldn’t pay,his lord commanded him to be sold,with his wife, his children,and all that he had,and payment to be made.26The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him,saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me,and I will repay you all!’27The lord of that servant,being moved with compassion,released him and forgave him the debt.

28“But that servant went outand found one of his fellow servantswho owed him one hundred denarii,and he grabbed him and took him by the throat,saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’

29“So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him,saying, ‘Have patience with me,and I will repay you!’30He would not, but wentand cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was due.31So when his fellow servants saw what was done,they were exceedingly sorry,and came and told their lord all that was done.32Then his lord called him in and said to him,‘You wicked servant!I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.33Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant,even as I had mercy on you?’34His lord was angry,and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay allthat was due to him.35So my heavenly Father will also do to you,if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”

1When Jesus had finished these words,he departed from Galileeand came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.