Scripture Reading for the
Common Calendar Year
(beginning January 1st)

August 16

Text taken from the
Third Millennium Bible^® (TMB^®)
(New Authorized Version^TM NAV^TM)

The Lectionary According to the Common Calendar

Psalm 37:21-40

21 The wicked borroweth and payeth not back,
but the righteous showeth mercy and giveth:
22 for such as are blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
but they that are cursed by Him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
and He delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old;
yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread.
26 He is ever merciful and lendeth;
and his seed is blessed.
27 Depart from evil and do good,
and dwell for evermore.
28 For the LORD loveth judgment,
and forsaketh not His saints;
they are preserved for ever,
but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
and dwell therein for ever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom,
and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
none of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked watcheth the righteous,
and seeketh to slay him.
33 But the LORD will not leave him in his hand,
nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait on the LORD and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and lo, he was no more;
yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright,
for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;
the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is in the LORD;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them, because they trust in Him.

Luke 13:31-45

31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto Him, "Get thee out and depart hence, for Herod will kill thee." 32 And He said unto them,

"Go ye and tell that fox, `Behold, I cast out devils and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.' 33 Nevertheless I must walk today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate; and verily I say unto you, ye shall not see Me until the time come when ye shall say, `Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.'"

1 Timothy 5:17-25

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture saith, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn," and, "The laborer is worthy of his reward." 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, except before two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 21 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 

22 Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself pure. 23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thy frequent infirmities. 

24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going on to judgment; and in some men they follow after. 25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand, but they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Isaiah 40:18-31

18 To whom then will ye liken God?
Or what likeness will ye compare unto Him?
19 The workman melteth a graven image,
and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold and casteth silver chains.
20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot;
he seeketh unto him a skillful workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved.

21 Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning?
Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers,
who stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in,
23 who bringeth the princes to nothing;
He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
24 Yea, they shall not be planted, yea, they shall not be sown;
yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth.
And He shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither,
and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.

25 "To whom then will ye liken Me,
or shall I be equal?" saith the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things,
who bringeth out their host by number.
He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might,
for He is strong in power; not one faileth.

27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel:
"My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God"?
28 Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
There is no searching of His understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint,
and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall;
31 but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
and they shall walk and not faint.

Words of Wisdom - Wisdom of Solomon 4:7, 10, 14, 16a

But though the righteous dies untimely, 
yet shall he be at rest. 
He pleased God and was beloved by Him, 
so that, living amongst sinners, he was translated.
For his soul pleased the Lord; 
therefore hastened He to take him away from among the wicked.
Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly who are living;