Daily Readings - 28/07/2026

^14:17 ‘Say this word to them, “Tears flood my eyes night and day, unceasingly, since a crushing blow falls on the daughter of my people, a most grievous injury.

^14:18 If I go into the countryside, there lie men killed by the sword; if I go into the city, I see people sick with hunger; even prophets and priests plough the land: they are at their wit’s end.”‘

^14:19 ‘Have you rejected Judah altogether? Does your very soul revolt at Zion? Why have you struck us down without hope of cure? We were hoping for peace – no good came of it! For the moment of cure – nothing but terror!

^14:20 Yahweh, we do confess our wickedness and our fathers’ guilt: we have indeed sinned against you.

^14:21 For your name’s sake do not reject us, do not dishonour the throne of your glory. Remember us; do not break your covenant with us.

^14:22 Can any of the pagan Nothings make it rain? Can the heavens produce showers? No, it is you, Yahweh. O our God, you are our hope, since it is you who do all this.’

^79:1 God, the pagans have invaded your heritage, they have desecrated your holy Temple; they have reduced Jerusalem to a pile of ruins,

^79:2 they have left the corpses of your servants to the birds of the air for food, and the flesh of your devout to the beasts of the earth.

^79:3 They have shed blood like water throughout Jerusalem, not a gravedigger left!

^79:4 we are now insulted by our neighbours, butt and laughing-stock of all those around us.

^79:5 How much longer will you be angry, Yahweh? For ever? Is your jealousy to go on smouldering like a fire?

^79:6 Pour out your anger on the pagans, who do not acknowledge you, and on those kingdoms that do not call on your name,

^79:7 for they have devoured Jacob and reduced his home to desolation.

^79:8 Do not hold our ancestors’ crimes against us, in tenderness quickly intervene, we can hardly be crushed lower;

^79:9 help us, God our saviour, for the honour of your name; Yahweh, blot out our sins, rescue us for the sake of your name.

^79:10 Why should the pagans ask, ‘Where is their God?’ May we soon see the pagans learning what vengeance you exact for your servants’ blood shed here!

^79:11 May the groans of the captive reach you; by your mighty arm rescue those doomed to die!

^79:12 Pay our neighbours sevenfold, strike to the heart for the monstrous insult proffered to you, Lord!

^79:13 And we your people, the flock that you pasture, giving you everlasting thanks, will recite your praises for ever and ever.

^13:36 Then, leaving the crowds, he went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain the parable about the darnel in the field to us’.

^13:37 He said in reply, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man.

^13:38 The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one;

^13:39 the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels.

^13:40 Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time.

^13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil,

^13:42 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

^13:43 Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.[*c] Listen, anyone who has ears!