Thursday 24 July 2036

1The Lord’s word came to me, saying,2“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem,saying, ‘The Lord says,

“I remember for you the kindness of your youth,your love as a bride,how you went after me in the wilderness,in a land that was not sown.3Israel was holiness to the Lord,the first fruits of his increase.All who devour him will be held guilty.Evil will come on them,”’ says the Lord.”· · · verses 4–6 are not read7I brought you into a plentiful landto eat its fruit and its goodness;but when you entered, you defiled my land,and made my heritage an abomination.8The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is the Lord?’and those who handle the law didn’t know me.The rulers also transgressed against me,and the prophets prophesied by Baaland followed things that do not profit.· · · verses 9–11 are not read12“Be astonished, you heavens, at thisand be horribly afraid.Be very desolate,” says the Lord.13“For my people have committed two evils:they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters,and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.

6Your loving kindness, Lord, is in the heavens.Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.7Your righteousness is like the mountains of God.Your judgments are like a great deep.Lord, you preserve man and animal.

8How precious is your loving kindness, God!The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.9They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house.You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.

10For with you is the spring of life.In your light we will see light.11Oh continue your loving kindness to those who know you,your righteousness to the upright in heart.

10The disciples came,and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

11He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven,but it is not given to them.12For whoever has, to him will be given,and he will have abundance;but whoever doesn’t have,from him will be taken away even that which he has.13Therefore I speak to them in parables,because seeing they don’t see,and hearing, they don’t hear,neither do they understand.14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says,

‘By hearing you will hear,and will in no way understand;Seeing you will see,and will in no way perceive;15for this people’s heart has grown callous,their ears are dull of hearing,and they have closed their eyes;or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes,hear with their ears,understand with their heart,and would turn again,and I would heal them.’

16“But blessed are your eyes, for they see;and your ears, for they hear.17For most certainly I tell you that many prophetsand righteous men desired to see the things which you see,and didn’t see them;and to hear the things which you hear,and didn’t hear them.