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

May 20

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

The Lectionary According to the Common Calendar

Psalm 119:49-64

49 Remember the word unto Thy servant,
upon which Thou hast caused me to hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
for Thy word hath quickened me.
51 The proud have held me greatly in derision,
yet have I not departed from Thy law.
52 I remembered Thy judgments of old, O LORD,
and have comforted myself.
53 Horror hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake Thy law.
54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I have remembered Thy name, O LORD, in the night and have kept Thy law.
56 This I had, because I kept Thy precepts.

57 Thou art my portion, O LORD;
I have said that I would keep Thy words.
58 I entreated Thy favor with my whole heart;
be merciful unto me according to Thy word.
59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies.
60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep Thy commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have robbed me,
but I have not forgotten Thy law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee,
because of Thy righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion of all them that fear Thee,
and of them that keep Thy precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Thy mercy;
teach me Thy statutes.

Mark 9:45-50

45 And if thy foot cause thee to fall, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter halt into life than, having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, 46 where 
`their worm dieth not, 
and the fire is not quenched.' 
47 And if thine eye cause thee to fall, pluck it out. It is better for thee to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire, 48 where 
`their worm dieth not, 
and the fire is not quenched.' 
49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost his saltness, with what will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another."

2 Corinthians 7:10-16

10 For godly sorrow is not to be repented of, but worketh repentance unto salvation; but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, when ye sorrowed in a godly manner: what earnest concern it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what requital! In all these things ye have proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, though I wrote unto you, I did not do so for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for his sake who suffered wrong, but that our concern for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort. Yea, we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14 For if I have boasted anything to him of you, I am not ashamed, but as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found to be true. 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

2 Samuel 9

1 And David said, "Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" 2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, "Art thou Ziba?" And he said, "Thy servant is he." 3 And the king said, "Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him?" And Ziba said unto the king, "Jonathan hath yet a son who is lame in his feet." 4 And the king said unto him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said unto the king, "Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar." 5 Then King David sent and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come unto David, he fell on his face and did reverence. And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he answered, "Behold thy servant!" 7 And David said unto him, "Fear not; for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually." 8 And he bowed himself and said, "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?"

9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, "I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 10 Thou, therefore, and thy sons and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat; but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread always at my table." (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) 11 Then said Ziba unto the king, "According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do." "As for Mephibosheth," said the king, "he shall eat at my table as one of the king's sons." 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table, and was lame in both his feet.

Words of Wisdom - Ecclesiasticus 16:14

Make way for every work of mercy, 
for every man shall find according to his works.