ESV: Daily Office Lectionary

May 23:

Crossway — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Proper 2

First Psalm: Ps. 18:1-20
Second Psalm: Ps. 18:21-50
Old Testament: Ruth 3:1-18
New Testament: 1 Tim. 4:1-16
Gospel: Luke 13:31-35

First Psalm: Ps. 18:1-20 Ps. 18:1-20

Psalm 18:1-20

The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:

18   I love you, O LORD, my strength.
  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
    my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
  I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
    and I am saved from my enemies.
  The cords of death encompassed me;
    the torrents of destruction assailed me;¹
  the cords of Sheol entangled me;
    the snares of death confronted me.
  In my distress I called upon the LORD;
    to my God I cried for help.
  From his temple he heard my voice,
    and my cry to him reached his ears.
  Then the earth reeled and rocked;
    the foundations also of the mountains trembled
    and quaked, because he was angry.
  Smoke went up from his nostrils,²
    and devouring fire from his mouth;
    glowing coals flamed forth from him.
  He bowed the heavens and came down;
    thick darkness was under his feet.
  He rode on a cherub and flew;
    he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
  He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
    thick clouds dark with water.
  Out of the brightness before him
    hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
  The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
    and the Most High uttered his voice,
    hailstones and coals of fire.
  And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
    he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
  Then the channels of the sea were seen,
    and the foundations of the world were laid bare
  at your rebuke, O LORD,
    at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
  He sent from on high, he took me;
    he drew me out of many waters.
  He rescued me from my strong enemy
    and from those who hated me,
    for they were too mighty for me.
  They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
    but the LORD was my support.
  He brought me out into a broad place;
    he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
  The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness;
    according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

Footnotes

[1] 18:4 Or terrified me
[2] 18:8 Or in his wrath

(ESV)

Second Psalm: Ps. 18:21-50 Ps. 18:21-50

Psalm 18:21-50

  For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
    and have not wickedly departed from my God.
  For all his rules¹ were before me,
    and his statutes I did not put away from me.
  I was blameless before him,
    and I kept myself from my guilt.
  So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
    according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
  With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
    with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
  with the purified you show yourself pure;
    and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
  For you save a humble people,
    but the haughty eyes you bring down.
  For it is you who light my lamp;
    the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
  For by you I can run against a troop,
    and by my God I can leap over a wall.
  This God—his way is perfect;²
    the word of the LORD proves true;
    he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
  For who is God, but the LORD?
    And who is a rock, except our God?—
  the God who equipped me with strength
    and made my way blameless.
  He made my feet like the feet of a deer
    and set me secure on the heights.
  He trains my hands for war,
    so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
  You have given me the shield of your salvation,
    and your right hand supported me,
    and your gentleness made me great.
  You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
    and my feet did not slip.
  I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
    and did not turn back till they were consumed.
  I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
    they fell under my feet.
  For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
    you made those who rise against me sink under me.
  You made my enemies turn their backs to me,³
    and those who hated me I destroyed.
  They cried for help, but there was none to save;
    they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
  I beat them fine as dust before the wind;
    I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
  You delivered me from strife with the people;
    you made me the head of the nations;
    people whom I had not known served me.
  As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
    foreigners came cringing to me.
  Foreigners lost heart
    and came trembling out of their fortresses.
  The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
    and exalted be the God of my salvation—
  the God who gave me vengeance
    and subdued peoples under me,
  who delivered me from my enemies;
    yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
    you rescued me from the man of violence.
  For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations,
    and sing to your name.
  Great salvation he brings to his king,
    and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
    to David and his offspring forever.

Footnotes

[1] 18:22 Or just decrees
[2] 18:30 Or blameless
[3] 18:40 Or You gave me my enemies' necks

(ESV)

Old Testament: Ruth 3:1-18 Ruth 3:1-18

Ruth 3

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

3 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings¹ over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” And he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

Footnotes

[1] 3:9 Compare 2:12; the word for wings can also mean corners of a garment

(ESV)

New Testament: 1 Tim. 4:1-16 1 Tim. 4:1-16

1 Timothy 4

Some Will Depart from the Faith

4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

If you put these things before the brothers,¹ you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive,² because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,³ so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Footnotes

[1] 4:6 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God's family, the church
[2] 4:10 Some manuscripts and suffer reproach
[3] 4:15 Greek be in them

(ESV)

Gospel: Luke 13:31-35 Luke 13:31-35

Luke 13:31-35

Lament over Jerusalem

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (ESV)

May 22:

Crossway — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Proper 2

First Psalm: Ps. 119:1-24
Second Psalm: Ps. 12,13,14
Old Testament: Ruth 2:14-23
New Testament: 1 Tim. 3:1-16
Gospel: Luke 13:18-30

First Psalm: Ps. 119:1-24 Ps. 119:1-24

Psalm 119:1-24

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

119   ¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the LORD!
  Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
    who seek him with their whole heart,
  who also do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways!
  You have commanded your precepts
    to be kept diligently.
  Oh that my ways may be steadfast
    in keeping your statutes!
  Then I shall not be put to shame,
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
  I will praise you with an upright heart,
    when I learn your righteous rules.²
  I will keep your statutes;
    do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

  How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
  With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
  I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
  Blessed are you, O LORD;
    teach me your statutes!
  With my lips I declare
    all the rules³ of your mouth.
  In the way of your testimonies I delight
    as much as in all riches.
  I will meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your ways.
  I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.

Gimel

  Deal bountifully with your servant,
    that I may live and keep your word.
  Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.
  I am a sojourner on the earth;
    hide not your commandments from me!
  My soul is consumed with longing
    for your rules⁴ at all times.
  You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
    who wander from your commandments.
  Take away from me scorn and contempt,
    for I have kept your testimonies.
  Even though princes sit plotting against me,
    your servant will meditate on your statutes.
  Your testimonies are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

Footnotes

[1] 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter
[2] 119:7 Or your just and righteous decrees; also verses 62, 106, 160, 164
[3] 119:13 Or all the just decrees
[4] 119:20 Or your just decrees; also verses 30, 39, 43, 52, 75, 102, 108, 137, 156, 175

(ESV)

Second Psalm: Ps. 12,13,14 Ps. 12,13,14

Psalm 12

The Faithful Have Vanished

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith.¹ A Psalm of David.

12   Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone;
    for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
  Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
    with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
  May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
    the tongue that makes great boasts,
  those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
    our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
  “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
    I will now arise,” says the LORD;
    “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
  The words of the LORD are pure words,
    like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
    purified seven times.
  You, O LORD, will keep them;
    you will guard us² from this generation forever.
  On every side the wicked prowl,
    as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

Footnotes

[1] 12:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
[2] 12:7 Or guard him

(ESV)

Psalm 13

How Long, O Lord?

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

13   How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
  How long must I take counsel in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
  How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
  Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
    light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
  lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
  But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
  I will sing to the LORD,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

(ESV)

Psalm 14

The Fool Says, There Is No God

To the choirmaster. Of David.

14   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
    there is none who does good.
  The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,
    to see if there are any who understand,¹
    who seek after God.
  They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
    there is none who does good,
    not even one.
  Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
    who eat up my people as they eat bread
    and do not call upon the LORD?
  There they are in great terror,
    for God is with the generation of the righteous.
  You would shame the plans of the poor,
    but² the LORD is his refuge.
  Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Footnotes

[1] 14:2 Or that act wisely
[2] 14:6 Or for

(ESV)

Old Testament: Ruth 2:14-23 Ruth 2:14-23

Ruth 2:14-23

And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”

So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah¹ of barley. And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Footnotes

[1] 2:17 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters

(ESV)

New Testament: 1 Tim. 3:1-16 1 Tim. 3:1-16

1 Timothy 3

Qualifications for Overseers

3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer¹ must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,² sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,³ not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must⁴ be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

  He⁵ was manifested in the flesh,
    vindicated⁶ by the Spirit,⁷
      seen by angels,
  proclaimed among the nations,
    believed on in the world,
      taken up in glory.

Footnotes

[1] 3:2 Or bishop; Greek episkopos; a similar term occurs in verse 1
[2] 3:2 Or a man of one woman; also verse 12
[3] 3:8 Or devious in speech
[4] 3:11 Or Wives, likewise, must, or Women, likewise, must
[5] 3:16 Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which
[6] 3:16 Or justified
[7] 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit

(ESV)

Gospel: Luke 13:18-30 Luke 13:18-30

Luke 13:18-30

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

The Narrow Door

He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (ESV)

May 21:

Crossway — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Proper 2

First Psalm: Ps. 5,6
Second Psalm: Ps. 10,11
Old Testament: Ruth 1:19-2:13
New Testament: 1 Tim. 1:18-2:8
Gospel: Luke 13:10-17

First Psalm: Ps. 5,6 Ps. 5,6

Psalm 5

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

5   Give ear to my words, O LORD;
    consider my groaning.
  Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my King and my God,
    for to you do I pray.
  O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you¹ and watch.
  For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not dwell with you.
  The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
    you hate all evildoers.
  You destroy those who speak lies;
    the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
  But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
  I will bow down toward your holy temple
    in the fear of you.
  Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    make your way straight before me.
  For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their inmost self is destruction;
  their throat is an open grave;
    they flatter with their tongue.
  Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them fall by their own counsels;
  because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.
  But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
  and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may exult in you.
  For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
    you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Footnotes

[1] 5:3 Or I direct my prayer to you

(ESV)

Psalm 6

O Lord, Deliver My Life

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith.¹ A Psalm of David.

6   O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath.
  Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
    heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.
  My soul also is greatly troubled.
    But you, O LORD—how long?
  Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;
    save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
  For in death there is no remembrance of you;
    in Sheol who will give you praise?
  I am weary with my moaning;
    every night I flood my bed with tears;
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
  My eye wastes away because of grief;
    it grows weak because of all my foes.
  Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
    for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
  The LORD has heard my plea;
    the LORD accepts my prayer.
  All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
    they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Footnotes

[1] 6:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term

(ESV)

Second Psalm: Ps. 10,11 Ps. 10,11

Psalm 10

Why Do You Hide Yourself?

10   Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
  In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
    let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
  For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
    and the one greedy for gain curses¹ and renounces the LORD.
  In the pride of his face² the wicked does not seek him;³
    all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
  His ways prosper at all times;
    your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
    as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
  He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
    throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”
  His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
    under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
  He sits in ambush in the villages;
    in hiding places he murders the innocent.
  His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
    he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket;
  he lurks that he may seize the poor;
    he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
  The helpless are crushed, sink down,
    and fall by his might.
  He says in his heart, “God has forgotten,
    he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
  Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;
    forget not the afflicted.
  Why does the wicked renounce God
    and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?
  But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
    that you may take it into your hands;
  to you the helpless commits himself;
    you have been the helper of the fatherless.
  Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
    call his wickedness to account till you find none.
  The LORD is king forever and ever;
    the nations perish from his land.
  O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
    you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
  to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
    so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Footnotes

[1] 10:3 Or and he blesses the one greedy for gain
[2] 10:4 Or of his anger
[3] 10:4 Or the wicked says, “He will not call to account”

(ESV)

Psalm 11

The Lord Is in His Holy Temple

To the choirmaster. Of David.

11   In the LORD I take refuge;
  how can you say to my soul,
    “Flee like a bird to your mountain,
  for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
    they have fitted their arrow to the string
    to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
  if the foundations are destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”¹
  The LORD is in his holy temple;
    the LORD's throne is in heaven;
    his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
  The LORD tests the righteous,
    but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
  Let him rain coals on the wicked;
    fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
  For the LORD is righteous;
  he loves righteous deeds;
    the upright shall behold his face.

Footnotes

[1] 11:3 Or for the foundations will be destroyed; what has the righteous done?

(ESV)

Old Testament: Ruth 1:19-2:13 Ruth 1:19-2:13

Ruth 1:19-2:13

Naomi and Ruth Return

So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi;¹ call me Mara,² for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Ruth Meets Boaz

2 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.” Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”³

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”

Footnotes

[1] 1:20 Naomi means pleasant
[2] 1:20 Mara means bitter
[3] 2:7 Compare Septuagint, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain

(ESV)

New Testament: 1 Tim. 1:18-2:8 1 Tim. 1:18-2:8

1 Timothy 1:18-2:8

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Pray for All People

2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man¹ Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

Footnotes

[1] 2:5 men and man render the same Greek word that is translated people in verses 1 and 4

(ESV)

Gospel: Luke 13:10-17 Luke 13:10-17

Luke 13:10-17

A Woman with a Disabling Spirit

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. (ESV)

May 20:

Crossway — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Proper 2

First Psalm: Ps. 1,2,3
Second Psalm: Ps. 4,7
Old Testament: Ruth 1:1-18
New Testament: 1 Tim. 1:1-17
Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

First Psalm: Ps. 1,2,3 Ps. 1,2,3

Psalm 1

Book One

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1   Blessed is the man¹
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
  nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
  but his delight is in the law² of the LORD,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.
  He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
  that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
  In all that he does, he prospers.
  The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
  for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

Footnotes

[1] 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface
[2] 1:2 Or instruction

(ESV)

Psalm 2

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

2   Why do the nations rage¹
    and the peoples plot in vain?
  The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
  “Let us burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”
  He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
  Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
  “As for me, I have set my King
    on Zion, my holy hill.”
  I will tell of the decree:
  The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
  You shall break² them with a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
  Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
  Serve the LORD with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
  Kiss the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.
  Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Footnotes

[1] 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
[2] 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule

(ESV)

Psalm 3

Save Me, O My God

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

3   O LORD, how many are my foes!
    Many are rising against me;
  many are saying of my soul,
    there is no salvation for him in God. Selah¹
  But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.
  I cried aloud to the LORD,
    and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
  I lay down and slept;
    I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
  I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
    who have set themselves against me all around.
  Arise, O LORD!
    Save me, O my God!
  For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
    you break the teeth of the wicked.
  Salvation belongs to the LORD;
    your blessing be on your people! Selah

Footnotes

[1] 3:2 The meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction

(ESV)

Second Psalm: Ps. 4,7 Ps. 4,7

Psalm 4

Answer Me When I Call

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

4   Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
    You have given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
  O men,¹ how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
    How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
  But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
    the LORD hears when I call to him.
  Be angry,² and do not sin;
    ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
  Offer right sacrifices,
    and put your trust in the LORD.
  There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”
  You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.
  In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Footnotes

[1] 4:2 Or O men of rank
[2] 4:4 Or Be agitated

(ESV)

Psalm 7

In You Do I Take Refuge

A Shiggaion¹ of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.

7   O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge;
    save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,
  lest like a lion they tear my soul apart,
    rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.
  O LORD my God, if I have done this,
    if there is wrong in my hands,
  if I have repaid my friend² with evil
    or plundered my enemy without cause,
  let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it,
    and let him trample my life to the ground
    and lay my glory in the dust. Selah
  Arise, O LORD, in your anger;
    lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;
    awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.
  Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you;
    over it return on high.
  The LORD judges the peoples;
    judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness
    and according to the integrity that is in me.
  Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
    and may you establish the righteous—
  you who test the minds and hearts,³
    O righteous God!
  My shield is with God,
    who saves the upright in heart.
  God is a righteous judge,
    and a God who feels indignation every day.
  If a man⁴ does not repent, God⁵ will whet his sword;
    he has bent and readied his bow;
  he has prepared for him his deadly weapons,
    making his arrows fiery shafts.
  Behold, the wicked man conceives evil
    and is pregnant with mischief
    and gives birth to lies.
  He makes a pit, digging it out,
    and falls into the hole that he has made.
  His mischief returns upon his own head,
    and on his own skull his violence descends.
  I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,
    and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

Footnotes

[1] 7:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
[2] 7:4 Hebrew the one at peace with me
[3] 7:9 Hebrew the hearts and kidneys
[4] 7:12 Hebrew he
[5] 7:12 Hebrew he

(ESV)

Old Testament: Ruth 1:1-18 Ruth 1:1-18

Ruth 1:1-18

Naomi Widowed

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Ruth's Loyalty to Naomi

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. (ESV)

New Testament: 1 Tim. 1:1-17 1 Tim. 1:1-17

1 Timothy 1:1-17

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

To Timothy, my true child in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning Against False Teachers

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship¹ from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,² liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound³ doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.⁴ Amen.

Footnotes

[1] 1:4 Or good order
[2] 1:10 That is, those who take someone captive in order to sell him into slavery
[3] 1:10 Or healthy
[4] 1:17 Greek to the ages of ages

(ESV)

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9 Luke 13:1-9

Luke 13:1-9

Repent or Perish

13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” (ESV)

May 19:

Crossway — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Day of Pentecost

First Psalm: Ps. 118
Second Psalm: Ps. 145
Old Testament: Isa. 11:1-9
New Testament: 1 Cor. 2:1-13
Gospel: John 14:21-29

First Psalm: Ps. 118 Ps. 118

Psalm 118

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

118   Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!
  Let Israel say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
  Let the house of Aaron say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
  Let those who fear the LORD say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
  Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
    the LORD answered me and set me free.
  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
    What can man do to me?
  The LORD is on my side as my helper;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
  It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in man.
  It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in princes.
  All nations surrounded me;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
  They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
  They surrounded me like bees;
    they went out like a fire among thorns;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
  I was pushed hard,¹ so that I was falling,
    but the LORD helped me.
  The LORD is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.
  Glad songs of salvation
    are in the tents of the righteous:
  “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
    the right hand of the LORD exalts,
    the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
  I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the deeds of the LORD.
  The LORD has disciplined me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.
  Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the LORD.
  This is the gate of the LORD;
    the righteous shall enter through it.
  I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
  The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.²
  This is the LORD's doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
  This is the day that the LORD has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.
  Save us, we pray, O LORD!
    O LORD, we pray, give us success!
  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
    We bless you from the house of the LORD.
  The LORD is God,
    and he has made his light to shine upon us.
  Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
    up to the horns of the altar!
  You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God; I will extol you.
  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

Footnotes

[1] 118:13 Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard
[2] 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner

(ESV)

Second Psalm: Ps. 145 Ps. 145

Psalm 145

Great Is the Lord

A Song of Praise. Of David.

145   I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
  Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.
  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.
  One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
  On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
  They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.
  They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
  The LORD is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
  The LORD is good to all,
    and his mercy is over all that he has made.
  All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
    and all your saints shall bless you!
  They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
    and tell of your power,
  to make known to the children of man your¹ mighty deeds,
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
  [The LORD is faithful in all his words
    and kind in all his works.]²
  The LORD upholds all who are falling
    and raises up all who are bowed down.
  The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food in due season.
  You open your hand;
    you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
  The LORD is righteous in all his ways
    and kind in all his works.
  The LORD is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
    he also hears their cry and saves them.
  The LORD preserves all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.
  My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
    and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Footnotes

[1] 145:12 Hebrew his; also next line
[2] 145:13 These two lines are supplied by one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac (compare Dead Sea Scroll)

(ESV)

Old Testament: Isa. 11:1-9 Isa. 11:1-9

Isaiah 11:1-9

The Righteous Reign of the Branch

11   There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
  And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and might,
    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
  And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
  He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
  but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
  and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
  Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
    and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
  The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
    and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
  and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
    and a little child shall lead them.
  The cow and the bear shall graze;
    their young shall lie down together;
    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
  The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
    and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.
  They shall not hurt or destroy
    in all my holy mountain;
  for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD
    as the waters cover the sea.

(ESV)

New Testament: 1 Cor. 2:1-13 1 Cor. 2:1-13

1 Corinthians 2:1-13

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

2 And I, when I came to you, brothers,¹ did not come proclaiming to you the testimony² of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men³ but in the power of God.

Wisdom from the Spirit

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

  “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
    nor the heart of man imagined,
  what God has prepared for those who love him”—

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.⁴

Footnotes

[1] 2:1 Or brothers and sisters
[2] 2:1 Some manuscripts mystery (or secret)
[3] 2:5 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
[4] 2:13 Or interpreting spiritual truths in spiritual language, or comparing spiritual things with spiritual

(ESV)

Gospel: John 14:21-29 John 14:21-29

John 14:21-29

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. (ESV)

ESV: Daily Office Lectionary

May 23:

First Psalm: Ps. 18:1-20 Ps. 18:1-20

Psalm 18:1-20

The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:

Footnotes

Second Psalm: Ps. 18:21-50 Ps. 18:21-50

Psalm 18:21-50

Footnotes

Old Testament: Ruth 3:1-18 Ruth 3:1-18

Ruth 3

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

Footnotes

New Testament: 1 Tim. 4:1-16 1 Tim. 4:1-16

1 Timothy 4

Some Will Depart from the Faith

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

Footnotes

Gospel: Luke 13:31-35 Luke 13:31-35

Luke 13:31-35

Lament over Jerusalem

May 22:

First Psalm: Ps. 119:1-24 Ps. 119:1-24

Psalm 119:1-24

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

Beth

Gimel

Footnotes

Second Psalm: Ps. 12,13,14 Ps. 12,13,14

Psalm 12

The Faithful Have Vanished

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith.1 A Psalm of David.

Footnotes

Psalm 13

How Long, O Lord?

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Psalm 14

The Fool Says, There Is No God

To the choirmaster. Of David.

Footnotes

Old Testament: Ruth 2:14-23 Ruth 2:14-23

Ruth 2:14-23

Footnotes

New Testament: 1 Tim. 3:1-16 1 Tim. 3:1-16

1 Timothy 3

Qualifications for Overseers

Qualifications for Deacons

The Mystery of Godliness

Footnotes

Gospel: Luke 13:18-30 Luke 13:18-30

Luke 13:18-30

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

The Narrow Door

May 21:

First Psalm: Ps. 5,6 Ps. 5,6

Psalm 5

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

Footnotes

Psalm 6

O Lord, Deliver My Life

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith.1 A Psalm of David.

Footnotes

Second Psalm: Ps. 10,11 Ps. 10,11

Psalm 10

Why Do You Hide Yourself?

Footnotes

Psalm 11

The Lord Is in His Holy Temple

To the choirmaster. Of David.

Footnotes

Old Testament: Ruth 1:19-2:13 Ruth 1:19-2:13

Ruth 1:19-2:13

Naomi and Ruth Return

Ruth Meets Boaz

Footnotes

New Testament: 1 Tim. 1:18-2:8 1 Tim. 1:18-2:8

1 Timothy 1:18-2:8

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith.¹ A Psalm of David.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith.¹ A Psalm of David.

A Shiggaion¹ of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.