Daily Readings - 31/10/2026

^1:18 But does it matter? Whether from dishonest motives or in sincerity, Christ is proclaimed; and that makes me happy;

^1:19 and I shall continue being happy, because I know this will help to save me,[*a] thanks to your prayers and to the help which will be given to me by the Spirit of Jesus.

^1:20 My one hope and trust is that I shall never have to admit defeat, but that now as always I shall have the courage for Christ to be glorified in my body, whether by my life or by my death.

^1:21 Life to me, of course, is Christ, but then death would bring me something more;

^1:22 but then again, if living in this body means doing work which is having good results-I do not know what I should choose.

^1:23 I am caught in this dilemma: I want to be gone and be with Christ, which would be very much the better,

^1:24 but for me to stay alive in this body is a more urgent need for your sake.

^1:25 This weighs with me so much that I feel sure I shall survive and stay with you all, and help you to progress in the faith and even increase your joy in it;

^1:26 and so you will have another reason to give praise to Christ Jesus on my account when I am with you again.

^41:1 Happy the man who cares for the poor and the weak: if disaster strikes, Yahweh will come to his help.

^41:2 Yahweh will guard him, give him life and happiness in the land; ah, do not let his enemies treat him as they please!

^41:3 Yahweh will be his comfort on his bed of sickness; most carefully you make his bed when he is sick.

^41:4 I for my part said, ‘Yahweh, take pity on me! Cure me, for I have sinned against you.’

^41:5 My enemies say of me with malice, ‘How long before he dies and his name perishes?’

^41:6 They visit me, their hearts full of spite, they offer hollow comfort, and go out to spread the news.

^41:7 All who hate me whisper to each other about me, reckoning I deserve the misery I suffer,

^41:8 ‘This sickness is fatal that has overtaken him, he is down at last, he will never get up again’.

^41:9 Even my closest and most trusted friend, who shared my table, rebels against me.

^41:10 But Yahweh, take pity on me! Raise me up, and I will pay them back;

^41:11 and by this I shall know that I enjoy your favour, if my enemy fails to triumph over me;

^41:12 and I, whom you uphold, go unscathed, set by you in your presence for ever.

^41:13 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from all eternity and for ever! Amen. Amen![*a]

^14:1 Now on a sabbath day he had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely.

^14:7 He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this,

^14:8 ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited,

^14:9 and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man”. And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place.

^14:10 No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher”. In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured.

^14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

^23:1 Yahweh is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

^23:2 In meadows of green grass he lets me lie. To the waters of repose he leads me;

^23:3 there he revives my soul. He guides me by paths of virtue for the sake of his name.

^23:4 Though I pass through a gloomy Valley, beside me your rod and your staff are there, to hearten me.

^23:5 You prepare a table before me under the eyes of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, my cup brims over.

^23:6 Ah, how goodness and kindness pursue me, every day of my life, my home, the house of Yahweh, as long as I live!

^3:1 Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are. Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us.

^3:2 My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is.

^3:3 Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.

^5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples.

^5:2 Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

^5:3 ‘How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

^5:4 Happy the gentle:[*b] they shall have the earth for their heritage.

^5:5 Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.

^5:6 Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.

^5:7 Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.

^5:8 Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.

^5:9 Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.

^5:10 Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

^5:11 ‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account.

^5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you. Salt of the earth and light of the world