Thursday in Epiphany

FIRST READING

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

Verse 18. You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment. Verse 19. Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Verse 20. Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

PSALM

Psalm 15

A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?

He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart,

who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,

who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,

who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

SECOND READING

1 Peter 3:8-12

Verse 8. Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. Verse 9. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. Verse 10. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. Verse 11. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. Verse 12. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”