Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

²⁷ “The days are coming,”^(A) declares the Lord, “when I will plant^(B) the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. ²⁸ Just as I watched^(C) over them to uproot^(D) and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster,^(E) so I will watch over them to build and to plant,”^(F) declares the Lord. ²⁹ “In those days people will no longer say,

³⁰ Instead, everyone will die for their own sin;^(I) whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

מ Mem

¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,^{(A) 15} and how from infancy^(B) you have known the Holy Scriptures,^(C) which are able to make you wise^(D) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed^(E) and is useful for teaching,^(F) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^{(G) 17} so that the servant of God^[a](H) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.^(I)

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,^(J) and in view of his appearing^(K) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:^{(L) 2} Preach^(M) the word;^(N) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke^(O) and encourage^(P)—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^(Q) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^{(R) 4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^{(S) 5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,^(T) do the work of an evangelist,^(U) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.^{(A) 2} He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. ³ And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice^(B) against my adversary.’

⁴ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”^(C)

⁶ And the Lord^(D) said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out^(E) to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man^(F) comes,^(G) will he find faith on the earth?”