Wednesday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Job 32:1-22

Verse 1. So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Verse 2. This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God, Verse 3. and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. Verse 4. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he. Verse 5. But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled. Verse 6. So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know. Verse 7. I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom. Verse 8. But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. Verse 9. It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice. Verse 10. Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I too will declare what I know.’ Verse 11. Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words, Verse 12. I paid you full attention. But no one proved Job wrong; not one of you rebutted his arguments. Verse 13. So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not man, refute him.’ Verse 14. But Job has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments. Verse 15. Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; words have escaped them. Verse 16. Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand and no longer reply? Verse 17. I too will answer; yes, I will declare what I know. Verse 18. For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me. Verse 19. Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like a new wineskin. Verse 20. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and respond. Verse 21. I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man. Verse 22. For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant.[’’]

PSALM

Psalm 39

For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”

I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.

My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.

You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath.

Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.

Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of fools.

I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.

Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand.

You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.

Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Obadiah 1:17-21

Verse 17. But on Mount Zion there will be deliverance, and it will be holy, and the house of Jacob will reclaim their possession. Verse 18. Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph a burning flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble — Jacob will set it ablaze and consume it. Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau.” Verse 19. Those from the Negev will possess the mountains of Esau; those from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead. Verse 20. And the exiles of this host of the Israelites will possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath; and the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the cities of the Negev. Verse 21. The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion to rule over the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will belong to the LORD.

PSALM

Psalm 26

Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind.

For Your loving devotion is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.

I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites.

I hate the mob of evildoers, and refuse to sit with the wicked.

I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,

to raise my voice in thanksgiving and declare all Your wonderful works.

O LORD, I love the house where You dwell, the place where Your glory resides.

Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men of bloodshed,

in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.

But I will walk with integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.

My feet stand on level ground; in the congregations I will bless the LORD.

SECOND READING

Luke 16:19-31

Verse 19. Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. Verse 20. And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores Verse 21. and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. Verse 22. One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried. Verse 23. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side. Verse 24. So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’ Verse 25. But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. Verse 26. And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’ Verse 27. ‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house, Verse 28. for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also end up in this place of torment.’ Verse 29. But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’ Verse 30. ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’ Verse 31. Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”