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

August 18

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

The Lectionary According to the Common Calendar

Psalm 39

1 I said, "I will take heed of my ways, that I sin not with my tongue;
I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me."
2 I was dumb with silence;
I held my peace, even from good, and my sorrow was stirred.
3 My heart was hot within me;
while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
4 "LORD, make me to know mine end,
and the measure of my days,
what it is, that I may know how frail I am.
5 Behold, Thou hast made my days as a handbreadth, and mine age is as nothing before Thee;
verily every man in his best state is altogether vanity.

6 "Surely every man walketh in a vain show; surely they are disquieted in vain;
he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 "And now, Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in Thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions;
make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth,
because Thou didst it.
10 Remove Thy stroke away from me;
I am consumed by the blow of Thine hand.
11 When with rebukes Thou dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to be consumed away like a moth;
surely every man is vanity.

12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry;
hold not Thy peace at my tears;
for I am a stranger with Thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 O spare me, that I may recover strength before I go hence and am no more."

Luke 14:15-24

15 And when one of those who sat at meat with Him heard these things, he said unto Him, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God." 16 Then Jesus said unto him,

"A certain man made a great supper and bade many. 17 And he sent his servant at suppertime to say to them that were bidden, `Come, for all things are now ready.' 18 And they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said unto him, `I have bought a piece of ground, and I need to go and see it. I pray thee have me excused.' 19 And another said, `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to test them. I pray thee have me excused.' 20 And another said, `I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So that servant came and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, `Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind.' 22 And the servant said, `Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.' 23 And the lord said unto the servant, `Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you that none of those men who were bidden shall taste of my supper.'"

1 Timothy 6:6-10

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. 9 But those who would be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil; and while some have coveted after it, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

Isaiah 43:1-7, 16-25

1 But now thus saith the LORD who created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed thee;
I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.
When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned,
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior;
I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee;
therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life.
5 Fear not, for I am with thee;
I will bring thy seed from the east and gather thee from the west;
6 I will say to the north, 'Give up,'
and to the south, 'Keep not back.'
Bring My sons from far
and My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 even every one that is called by My name:
For I have created him for My glory;
I have formed him;
yea, I have made him."

16 Thus saith the LORD, who maketh a way in the sea 
and a path in the mighty waters, 
17 Who bringeth forth the chariot and horse, 
the army and the power 
(they shall lie down together, they shall not rise; 
they are extinct, they are quenched as tow): 
18 "Remember ye not the former things, 
neither consider the things of old. 
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? 
I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 
20 The beast of the field shall honor Me, the dragons and the owls, 
because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. 
21 This people have I formed for Myself; 
they shall show forth My praise.

22 "But thou hast not called upon Me, O Jacob; 
but thou hast been weary of Me, O Israel. 
23 Thou hast not brought Me the lambs or kids of thy burnt offerings, 
neither hast thou honored Me with thy sacrifices. 
I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, 
nor wearied thee with incense. 
24 Thou hast bought Me no sweet cane with money, 
neither hast thou filled Me with the fat of thy sacrifices. 
But thou hast made Me to serve with thy sins; 
thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities. 

25 "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, 
and will not remember thy sins.

Isaiah 44:6-8

6 "Thus saith the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
I am the First, and I am the Last, and besides Me there is no God.
7 And who, as I, shall call and shall declare it, and set it in order for Me, since I appointed the ancient people?
And the things that are coming and shall come, let them show unto them.
8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid. Have not I told thee from that time and have declared it?
Ye are even My witnesses.
Is there a God besides Me?
Yea, there is no God. I know not any."

Words of Wisdom - Ecclesiasticus 29:22

Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, 
than delicate fare in another man's house.