Scripture Readings

The Season After Pentecost
Proper 14 (19) in Year B
For the Sunday during 7 through 13 August

Scripture readings are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV® ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.

Alternate One:
Old Testament
Psalm

Alternate Two:
Old Testament
Psalm

Epistle Reading
Gospel Reading

Old Testament (Alternate One)

     The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.
     The army marched into the field to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. There the army of Israel was defeated by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men. The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword.
     Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going. And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.
     The king said, “Stand aside and wait here.” So he stepped aside and stood there.
     Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The LORD has delivered you today from all who rose up against you.”
     The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
     The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”
     The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”
—2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, NIV

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Psalm (Alternate One)

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
     O Lord, hear my voice.
     Let your ears be attentive
     to my cry for mercy.
If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
     O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
     therefore you are feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
     and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
     more than watchmen wait for the morning,
     more than watchmen wait for the morning.
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
     for with the LORD is unfailing love
     and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
     from all their sins.
—Psalm 130, NIV

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Old Testament (Alternate Two)

     [Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,] while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
     All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
     The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
—1 Kings 19:4-8, NIV

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Psalm (Alternate Two)

I will extol the LORD at all times;
     his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD;
     let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
     let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
     he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
     their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
     he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
     and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
     blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
—Psalm 34:1-8, NIV

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Epistle

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
—Ephesians 4:25-5:2, NIV

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Gospel

     Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
     At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
     “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
—John 6:35, 41-51, NIV

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