Zechariah 10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Restoration of Judah and Israel
10 Ask rain from the Lord
in the season of the spring rain,
from the Lord who makes the storm clouds,
who gives showers of rain to you,[a]
the vegetation in the field to everyone.(A)
2 For the teraphim[b] utter nonsense,
and the diviners see lies;
the dreamers tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people[c] wander like sheep;
they suffer for lack of a shepherd.(B)
3 My anger is hot against the shepherds,
and I will punish the leaders,[d]
for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them like his proud war horse.(C)
4 Out of them shall come the cornerstone,
out of them the tent peg,
out of them the battle bow,
out of them every commander.(D)
5 Together they shall be like warriors in battle,
trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;
they shall fight, for the Lord is with them,
and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.(E)
6 I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God, and I will answer them.(F)
7 Then the people of Ephraim shall become like warriors,
and their hearts shall be glad as with wine.
Their children shall see it and rejoice;
their hearts shall exult in the Lord.(G)
8 I will signal for them and gather them in,
for I have redeemed them,
and they shall be as numerous as they were before.(H)
9 Though I scattered them among the nations,
yet in far countries they shall remember me,
and they shall rear their children and return.(I)
10 I will bring them home from the land of Egypt
and gather them from Assyria;
I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon,
until there is no room for them.(J)
11 They[e] shall pass through the sea of distress,
and the waves of the sea shall be struck down,
and all the depths of the Nile dried up.
The pride of Assyria shall be laid low,
and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.(K)
12 I will make them strong in the Lord,
and they shall walk in his name,
says the Lord.(L)
Galatians 6:1-10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Bear One Another’s Burdens
6 My brothers and sisters, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill[a] the law of Christ.(A) 3 For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.(B) 4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride.(C) 5 For all must carry their own loads.
6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.(D)
7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.(E) 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.(F) 9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.(G) 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith.(H)
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- 6.2 Other ancient authorities read in this way fulfill
Luke 18:15-30
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Jesus Blesses Little Children
15 People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them, and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. 16 But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”(A)
The Rich Ruler
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(B) 19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery. You shall not murder. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.’ ”(C) 21 He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money[a] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”(D) 23 But when he heard this, he became sad, for he was very rich. 24 Jesus looked at him[b] and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!(E) 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.”(F)
28 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.”(G) 29 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 who will not get back very much more in this age and in the age to come eternal life.”(H)
Read full chapterNew Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.