Micah 3:1-8
And I said: Listen, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Should you not know justice?-- you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin off my people, and the flesh off their bones; who eat the flesh of my people, flay their skin off them, break their bones in pieces, and chop them up like meat in a kettle, like flesh in a caldron. Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have acted wickedly. Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry "Peace" when they have something to eat, but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths. Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God. But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
Acts 24:1-23
Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor. When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. We welcome this in every way and everywhere with utmost gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him." The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true. When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: "I cheerfully make my defense, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation. As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city. Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets. I have a hope in God-- a hope that they themselves also accept-- that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people. Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation and to offer sacrifices. While I was doing this, they found me in the temple, completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance. But there were some Jews from Asia-- they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me. Or let these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council, unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, 'It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'" But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, "When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case." Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody, but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.
Luke 7:36-50
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him-- that she is a sinner." Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "Speak." "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Morning Psalms
Psalm 131 Domine, non est
1 O LORD, I am not proud; I have no haughty looks.
2 I do not occupy myself with great matters, or with things that are too hard for me.
3 But I still my soul and make it quiet, like a child upon its mother's breast; my soul is quieted within me.
4 O Israel, wait upon the LORD, from this time forth for evermore.
Psalm 132 Memento, Domine
1 LORD, remember David, and all the hardships he endured;
2 How he swore an oath to the LORD and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 I will not come under the roof of my house, nor climb up into my bed;
4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep, nor let my eyelids slumber;
5 Until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
6 The ark! We heard it was in Ephratah; we found it in the fields of Jearim.
7 Let us go to God's dwelling place; let us fall upon our knees before his footstool."
8 Arise, O LORD, into your resting-place, you and the ark of your strength.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; let your faithful people sing with joy.
10 For your servant David's sake, do not turn away the face of your Anointed.
11 The LORD has sworn an oath to David; in truth, he will not break it:
12 A son, the fruit of your body will I set upon your throne.
13 If your children keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their children will sit upon your throne for evermore."
14 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired her for his habitation:
15 This shall be my resting-place for ever; here will I dwell, for I delight in her.
16 I will surely bless her provisions, and satisfy her poor with bread.
17 I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will rejoice and sing.
18 There will I make the horn of David flourish; I have prepared a lamp for my Anointed.
19 As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame; but as for him, his crown will shine."
Psalm 133 Ecce, quam bonum!
1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, when brethren live together in unity!
2 It is like fine oil upon the head that runs down upon the beard,
3 Upon the beard of Aaron, and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
4 It is like the dew of Hermon that falls upon the hills of Zion.
5 For there the LORD has ordained the blessing: life for evermore.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 134 Ecce nunc
1 Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.
2 Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
Psalm 135 Laudate nomen
1 Hallelujah! Praise the Name of the LORD; give praise, you servants of the LORD.
2 You who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praises to his Name, for it is lovely.
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself and Israel for his own possession.
5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the deeps.
7 He brings up rain clouds from the ends of the earth; he sends out lightning with the rain, and brings the winds out of his storehouse.
8 It was he who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, the firstborn both of man and beast.
9 He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He overthrew many nations and put mighty kings to death:
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan.
12 He gave their land to be an inheritance, an inheritance for Israel his people.
13 O LORD, your Name is everlasting; your renown, O LORD, endures from age to age.
14 For the LORD gives his people justice and shows compassion to his servants.
15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; eyes have they, but they cannot see.
17 They have ears, but they cannot hear; neither is there any breath in their mouth.
18 Those who make them are like them, and so are all who put their trust in them.
19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel; O house of Aaron, bless the LORD.
20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi; you who fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.
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