Scripture Readings

The Season After Pentecost
Proper 25 (30) in Year B
For the Sunday during 23 through 29 October

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)

Then Job replied to the LORD:
“I know that you can do all things;
     no plan of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’
     Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
     things too wonderful for me to know.
“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
     I will question you,
     and you shall answer me.’
My ears had heard of you
     but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
     and repent in dust and ashes.”
     After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.
     The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.
     After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so he died, old and full of years.
—Job 42:1-6, 10-17, NIV

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Psalm (Alternate One)

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.
[A righteous man may have many troubles,
     but the LORD delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
     not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked;
     the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD redeems his servants;
     no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.]
—Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22), NIV

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Old Testament (Alternate Two)

This is what the LORD says:
“Sing with joy for Jacob;
     shout for the foremost of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
     ‘O LORD, save your people,
     the remnant of Israel.’
See, I will bring them from the land of the north
     and gather them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind and the lame,
     expectant mothers and women in labor;
     a great throng will return.
They will come with weeping;
     they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead them beside streams of water
     on a level path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,
     and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
—Jeremiah 31:7-9, NIV

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Psalm (Alternate Two)

When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
     we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
     our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
     “The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us,
     and we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
     like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears
     will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
     carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
     carrying sheaves with him.
—Psalm 126, NIV

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Epistle

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
—Hebrews 7:23-28, NIV

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Gospel

     Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
     Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
     Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
     So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
     “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
     The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
     “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
—Mark 10:46-52, NIV

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