Bible Society of South Africa

Season after Pentecost: Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Alternate first reading and Psalm

12But don't try to bribe him or rely on offerings that you have obtained dishonestly. He will not accept them.

God's Justice

The Lord is fair and does not show partiality. 13He is not prejudiced against the poor; when someone prays who has been wronged, the Lord listens. 14When orphans and widows pour out their prayers, he does not ignore them. 15The tears running down a widow's cheek cry out in accusation against the one who has caused her distress.

16Serve the Lord willingly, and the Lord will accept you; your prayers will reach the skies. 17The prayer of a humble person goes past the clouds and keeps on going until it reaches the Lord Most High, where it stays until he answers by seeing that justice is done and that the guilty are punished.

Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 35:12-17GNBOpen in Bible reader

7My people cry out to me,

‘Even though our sins accuse us,

help us, LORD, as you have promised.

We have turned away from you many times;

we have sinned against you.

8You are Israel's only hope;

you are the one who saves us from disaster.

Why are you like a stranger in our land,

like a traveller who stays for only one night?

9Why are you like someone taken by surprise,

like a soldier powerless to help?

Surely, LORD, you are with us!

We are your people;

do not abandon us.’ ”

10The LORD says about these people, “They love to run away from me, and they will not control themselves. So I am not pleased with them. I will remember the wrongs they have done and punish them because of their sins.”

Jeremiah 14:7-10GNBOpen in Bible reader

The People Plead with the LORD

19LORD, have you completely rejected Judah?

Do you hate the people of Zion?

Why have you hurt us so badly

that we cannot be healed?

We looked for peace, but nothing good happened;

we hoped for healing, but terror came instead.

20We have sinned against you, LORD;

we confess our own sins

and the sins of our ancestors.

21Remember your promises and do not despise us;

do not bring disgrace on Jerusalem,

the place of your glorious throne.

Do not break the covenant you made with us.

22None of the idols of the nations can send rain;

the sky by itself cannot make showers fall.

We have put our hope in you, O LORD our God,

because you are the one who does these things.

Jeremiah 14:19-22GNBOpen in Bible reader

Longing for God's House

1How I love your Temple, LORD Almighty!

2How I want to be there!

I long to be in the LORD's Temple.

With my whole being I sing for joy

to the living God.

3Even the sparrows have built a nest,

and the swallows have their own home;

they keep their young near your altars,

LORD Almighty, my king and my God.

4How happy are those who live in your Temple,

always singing praise to you.

5How happy are those whose strength comes from you,

who are eager to make the pilgrimage to Mount Zion.

6As they pass through the dry valley of Baca,

it becomes a place of springs;

the autumn rain fills it with pools.

7They grow stronger as they go;

they will see the God of gods on Zion.

Psalms 84:1-7GNBOpen in Bible reader
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