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

May 25

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

The Lectionary According to the Common Calendar

Psalm 119:129-144

129 Thy testimonies are wonderful; 
therefore doth my soul keep them. 
130 The entering of Thy words giveth light;
it giveth understanding unto the simple. 
131 I opened my mouth and panted, 
for I longed for Thy commandments. 
132 Look Thou upon me and be merciful unto me, 
as Thou used to do unto those that love Thy name. 
133 Order my steps in Thy word, 
and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 
134 Deliver me from the oppression of man; 
so will I keep Thy precepts. 
135 Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, and teach me Thy statutes. 
136 Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because men keep not Thy law. 

137 Righteous art Thou, O LORD, 
and upright are Thy judgments. 
138 Thy testimonies that Thou hast commanded 
are righteous and very faithful. 
139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten Thy words. 
140 Thy word is very pure; therefore Thy servant loveth it. 
141 I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Thy precepts. 
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is the truth. 
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me, 
yet Thy commandments are my delights. 
144 The righteousness of Thy testimonies is everlasting; 
give me understanding, and I shall live.

Mark 10:35-45

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came unto Him, saying, "Master, we would that Thou should do for us whatsoever we shall desire." 36 And He said unto them, 

"What would ye that I should do for you?" 

37 They said unto Him, "Grant unto us that we may sit, one on Thy right hand and the other on Thy left hand, in Thy glory." 38 But Jesus said unto them, 

"Ye know not what ye ask. Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" 

39 And they said unto Him, "We can." And Jesus said unto them, 

"Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized with, also shall ye be baptized. 40 But to sit on My right hand and on My left hand is not Mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared." 

41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Him and said unto them, 

"Ye know that they that are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you shall be your minister, 44 and whosoever of you would be the chiefest shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give His life as a ransom for many."

2 Corinthians 10:1-6

1 Now I, Paul, myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ -- I, who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you -- 2 I beseech you that when I am present I need not be bold with that confidence with which I have in mind to be bold against some, who think of us as though we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds, 5 casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

2 Samuel 18:19-33

19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, "Let me now run and bear the king tidings, how the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies." 20 And Joab said unto him, "Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead." 21 Then said Joab to a Cushite, "Go, tell the king what thou hast seen." And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab and ran. 22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, "But come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite." And Joab said, "Why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?" 23 "But howsoever," said he, "let me run." And he said unto him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

24 And David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone. 25 And the watchman cried and told the king. And the king said, "If he be alone, there are tidings in his mouth." And he came apace and drew near. 26 And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called unto the gatekeeper and said, "Behold, another man running alone." And the king said, "He also bringeth tidings." 27 And the watchman said, "I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings."

28 And Ahimaaz called and said unto the king, "All is well." And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king and said, "Blessed be the LORD thy God, who hath delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king." 29 And the king said, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was." 30 And the king said unto him, "Turn aside and stand here." And he turned aside and stood still.

31 And behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, "Tidings, my lord the king; for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all those who rose up against thee." 32 And the king said unto the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" And the Cushite answered, "The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is." 33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, thus he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

Words of Wisdom - Proverbs 15:16-17

Better is little with the fear of the LORD, 
than great treasure and trouble therewith. 
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, 
than a fattened ox and hatred therewith.