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

August 21

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

The Lectionary According to the Common Calendar

Psalm 42

1 As the hart panteth for the water brooks,
so panteth my soul for Thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God;
when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night,
while they continually say unto me, "Where is thy God?"

4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me,
for I had gone with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise,
with a multitude that kept holyday.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
And why art thou disquieted within me?
Hope thou in God,
for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
therefore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites, from the hill of Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy waterspouts;
all Thy waves and Thy billows have gone over me.
8 Yet the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
and in the night His song shall be with me and my prayer unto the God of my life.

9 I will say unto God my rock, "Why hast Thou forgotten me?
Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me,
while they say daily unto me, "Where is thy God?"

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
And why art thou disquieted within me?
Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
who is the health of my countenance and my God.

Luke 15:11-32

11 And He said,

"A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.' And he divided unto them his estate. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate, and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, `How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee, 19 and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants."' 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, `Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, `Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to be merry.

25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, `Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.' 28 And he was angry and would not go in; therefore came his father out and entreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, `Lo, these many years have I served thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this thy son was come who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.' 31 And he said unto him, `Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry and be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.'"

2 Timothy 1:1-7

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 

2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that I have thee in remembrance in my prayers night and day without ceasing. 4 I greatly desire to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy 5 when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice and,I am persuaded, is in thee also. 6 Therefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee through the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

Isaiah 49:1-13

1 "Listen, O isles, unto Me,
and hearken, ye people from afar!
The LORD hath called Me from the womb;
from the bowels of My mother hath He made mention of My name.
2 And He hath made My mouth like a sharp sword;
in the shadow of His hand hath He hid Me, and made Me a polished shaft.
In His quiver hath He hid Me, 3 and said unto Me,
'Thou art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.'
4 Then I said, `I have labored in vain;
I have spent My strength for nought and in vain;
yet surely My judgment is with the LORD,
and My work with My God.'"

5 "And now saith the LORD that formed Me from the womb to be His servant,
to bring Jacob again to Him, though Israel be not gathered--
yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD,
and My God shall be My strength"
6 and He said: `It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel.
I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles,
that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.'"

7 Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and His Holy One,
to Him whom man despiseth, to Him whom the nation abhorreth, to a Servant of rulers:
"Kings shall see and arise,
princes also shall worship,
because of the LORD who is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel;
and He shall choose Thee."

8 Thus saith the LORD: "In an acceptable time have I heard Thee,
and in a day of salvation have I helped Thee;
and I will preserve Thee and give Thee for a covenant of the people,
to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages,
9 that Thou mayest say to the prisoners, `Go forth,'
to them that are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.'
"They shall feed on the paths,
and their pastures shall be in all high places.
10 They shall not hunger nor thirst,
neither shall the heat nor sun smite them;
for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them,
even by the springs of water shall He guide them.
11 And I will make all My mountains a way,
and My highways shall be exalted.
12 Behold, these shall come from far--
and lo, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim."

13 Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth!
And break forth into singing, O mountains!
For the LORD hath comforted His people,
and will have mercy upon His afflicted.

Words of Wisdom - Ecclesiasticus 30:2

He that chastiseth his son shall have joy in him, 
and shall rejoice in him among his acquaintances.