Bible Society of South Africa

Season after Pentecost: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

First reading and Psalm

27“I, the LORD, say that the time is coming when I will fill the land of Israel and Judah with people and animals. 28And just as I took care to uproot, to pull down, to overthrow, to destroy, and to demolish them, so I will take care to plant them and to build them up. 29When that time comes, people will no longer say,

‘The parents ate the sour grapes,

But the children got the sour taste.’

30Instead, all those who eat sour grapes will have their own teeth set on edge; and they will all die because of their own sin.”

31The LORD says, “The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. Although I was like a husband to them, they did not keep that covenant. 33The new covenant that I will make with the people of Israel will be this: I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34None of them will have to teach his fellow-citizen to know the LORD, because all will know me, from the least to the greatest. I will forgive their sins and I will no longer remember their wrongs. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

Jeremiah 31:27-34GNBOpen in Bible reader

Love for the Law of the LORD

97How I love your law!

I think about it all day long.

98Your commandment is with me all the time

and makes me wiser than my enemies.

99I understand more than all my teachers,

because I meditate on your instructions.

100I have greater wisdom than those who are old,

because I obey your commands.

101I have avoided all evil conduct,

because I want to obey your word.

102I have not neglected your instructions,

for you yourself are my teacher.

103How sweet is the taste of your instructions —

sweeter even than honey!

104I gain wisdom from your laws,

and so I hate all bad conduct.

Psalms 119:97-104GNBOpen in Bible reader
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