Wednesday 14 August 2024

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.’”

1Praise the Lord!Praise, you servants of the Lord,praise the Lord’s name.2Blessed be the Lord’s name,from this time forward and forever more.

3From the rising of the sun to its going down,the Lord’s name is to be praised.4The Lord is high above all nations,his glory above the heavens.

5Who is like the Lord, our God,who has his seat on high,6who stoops down to see in heaven and on the earth?

15“If your brother sins against you,go, show him his fault between you and him alone.If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.16But if he doesn’t listen,take one or two more with you,that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly.If he refuses to hear the assembly also,let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.18Most certainly I tell you,whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven,and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.19Again, assuredly I tell you,that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask,it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.20For where two or three are gathered together in my name,there I am in the middle of them.”