Saturday 1 February 2014

16“If I have withheld the poor from their desire,or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17or have eaten my morsel alone,and the fatherless has not eaten of it18(no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,I have guided her from my mother’s womb);19if I have seen any perish for want of clothing,or that the needy had no covering;20if his heart hasn’t blessed me,if he hasn’t been warmed with my sheep’s fleece;· · · verses 21–23 are not read24“If I have made gold my hope,and have said to the fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’25If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,and because my hand had gotten much;· · · verses 26–30 are not read31if the men of my tent have not said,‘Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?’32(the foreigner has not camped in the street,but I have opened my doors to the traveler);

35He turns a desert into a pool of water,and a dry land into water springs.36There he makes the hungry live,that they may prepare a city to live in,37sow fields, plant vineyards,and reap the fruits of increase.38He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly.He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease.

41Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction,and increases their families like a flock.42The upright will see it, and be glad.All the wicked will shut their mouths.

32“If you love those who love you,what credit is that to you?For even sinners love those who love them.33If you do good to those who do good to you,what credit is that to you?For even sinners do the same.34If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive,what credit is that to you?Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much.35But love your enemies,and do good, and lend,expecting nothing back;and your reward will be great,and you will be children of the Most High;for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

36“Therefore be merciful,even as your Father is also merciful.37Don’t judge,and you won’t be judged.Don’t condemn,and you won’t be condemned.Set free,and you will be set free.

38“Give, and it will be given to you:good measure, pressed down,shaken together, and running over,will be given to you.For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”