Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Judges 4:1-7

Verse 1. After Ehud died, the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD. Verse 2. So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. Verse 3. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, because Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and he had harshly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Verse 4. Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. Verse 5. And she would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites would go up to her for judgment. Verse 6. She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun. Verse 7. And I will draw out Sisera the commander of Jabin’s army, his chariots, and his troops to the River Kishon, and I will deliver him into your hand.’”

PSALM

Psalm 123

A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.

As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.

Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt.

We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18

Verse 7. Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests. Verse 12. And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ Verse 13. Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine. Verse 14. The great Day of the LORD is near — near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. Verse 15. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, Verse 16. a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. Verse 17. I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. Verse 18. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.

PSALM

Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12

A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.

Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

You return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”

For in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night.

You sweep them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning—

in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers.

For we are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your wrath.

You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.

SECOND READING

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Verse 1. Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you. Verse 2. For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Verse 3. While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Verse 4. But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. Verse 5. For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. Verse 6. So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. Verse 7. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. Verse 8. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation. Verse 9. For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 10. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Verse 11. Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

GOSPEL

Matthew 25:14-30

Verse 14. For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. Verse 15. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent — each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. Verse 16. The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. Verse 17. Likewise, the one with the two talents gained two more. Verse 18. But the servant who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. Verse 19. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. Verse 20. The servant who had received the five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ Verse 21. His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ Verse 22. The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more.’ Verse 23. His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ Verse 24. Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. Verse 25. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’ Verse 26. ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. Verse 27. Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. Verse 28. Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. Verse 29. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Verse 30. And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’