Wednesday 23 August 2028

1The Lord’s word came to me, saying,2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel.Prophesy, and tell them,even the shepherds,‘The Lord GOD says:“Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves!Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep?3You eat the fat.You clothe yourself with the wool.You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep.4You haven’t strengthened the diseased.You haven’t healed that which was sick.You haven’t bound up that which was broken.You haven’t brought back that which was driven away.You haven’t sought that which was lost,but you have ruled over them with force and with rigor.5They were scattered, because there was no shepherd.They became food to all the animals of the field,and were scattered.6My sheep wandered through all the mountainsand on every high hill.Yes, my sheep were scattered on all the surface of the earth.There was no one who searched or sought.”

7“‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the Lord’s word:8“As I live,” says the Lord GOD,“surely because my sheep became a prey,and my sheep became food to all the animals of the field,because there was no shepherd,and my shepherds didn’t search for my sheep,but the shepherds fed themselves,and didn’t feed my sheep,9therefore, you shepherds, hear the Lord’s word!”10The Lord GOD says:“Behold, I am against the shepherds.I will require my sheep at their hand,and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep.The shepherds won’t feed themselves any more.I will deliver my sheep from their mouth,that they may not be food for them.”

11“‘For the Lord GOD says:“Behold, I myself,even I, will search for my sheep,and will seek them out.

1The Lord is my shepherd;I shall lack nothing.2He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.3He restores my soul.

3He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me.Your rod and your staff,they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil.My cup runs over.

6Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the Lord’s house forever.

1“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a manwho was the master of a household,who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.2When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day,he sent them into his vineyard.3He went out about the third hour,and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.4He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard,and whatever is right I will give you.’So they went their way.5Again he went out about the sixthand the ninth hour, and did likewise.6About the eleventh hour he went outand found others standing idle.He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’

7“They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’

“He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard,and you will receive whatever is right.’

8“When evening had come,the lord of the vineyard said to his manager,‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages,beginning from the last to the first.’9“When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came,they each received a denarius.10When the first came,they supposed that they would receive more;and they likewise each received a denarius.11When they received it,they murmured against the master of the household,12saying, ‘These last have spent one hour,and you have made them equal to uswho have borne the burden of the dayand the scorching heat!’

13“But he answered one of them,‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong.Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?14Take that which is yours, and go your way.It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.15Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own?Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’16So the last will be first, and the first last.For many are called, but few are chosen.”