The Daily Practice

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a]

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

1 Clap your hands, all you nations;     shout to God with cries of joy.

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,     the great King over all the earth. 3 He subdued nations under us,     peoples under our feet. 4 He chose our inheritance for us,     the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.[b]

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,     the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;     sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth;     sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;     God is seated on his holy throne. 9 The nobles of the nations assemble     as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;     he is greatly exalted.

12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

24 “This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

2 [a]How the Lord has covered Daughter Zion     with the cloud of his anger[b]! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel     from heaven to earth; he has not remembered his footstool     in the day of his anger.

2 Without pity the Lord has swallowed up     all the dwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has torn down     the strongholds of Daughter Judah. He has brought her kingdom and its princes     down to the ground in dishonor.

3 In fierce anger he has cut off     every horn[c][d] of Israel. He has withdrawn his right hand     at the approach of the enemy. He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire     that consumes everything around it.

4 Like an enemy he has strung his bow;     his right hand is ready. Like a foe he has slain     all who were pleasing to the eye; he has poured out his wrath like fire     on the tent of Daughter Zion.

1 God is our refuge and strength,     an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way     and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam     and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,     the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall;     God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;     he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;     the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,     the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease     to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;     he burns the shields[d] with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;     I will be exalted among the nations,     I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;     the God of Jacob is our fortress.

12 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.

6 “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

7 “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:

“‘The stone the builders rejected     has become the cornerstone; 11 the Lord has done this,     and it is marvelous in our eyes’[a]?”

23 I call God as my witness—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. 2 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

17 Zion stretches out her hands,     but there is no one to comfort her. The Lord has decreed for Jacob     that his neighbors become his foes; Jerusalem has become     an unclean thing among them.

18 “The Lord is righteous,     yet I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples;     look on my suffering. My young men and young women     have gone into exile.

19 “I called to my allies     but they betrayed me. My priests and my elders     perished in the city while they searched for food     to keep themselves alive.

20 “See, Lord, how distressed I am!     I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed,     for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves;     inside, there is only death.

21 “People have heard my groaning,     but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my distress;     they rejoice at what you have done. May you bring the day you have announced     so they may become like me.

22 “Let all their wickedness come before you;     deal with them as you have dealt with me     because of all my sins. My groans are many     and my heart is faint.”

9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women;     at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:     Forget your people and your father’s house. 11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;     honor him, for he is your lord. 12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift,[a]     people of wealth will seek your favor. 13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber;     her gown is interwoven with gold. 14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;     her virgin companions follow her—     those brought to be with her. 15 Led in with joy and gladness,     they enter the palace of the king.

16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;     you will make them princes throughout the land.

17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;     therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.