FIRST
READING: 1 Kings 21:
1 - 16
1
Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the
palace of Ahab king of Sama'ria.
2
And after this Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, that
I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house;
and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to
you, I will give you its value in money."
3
But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give you
the inheritance of my fathers."
4
And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth
the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, "I will not
give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his
bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.
5
But Jez'ebel his wife came to him, and said to him, "Why is your
spirit so vexed that you eat no food?"
6
And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite,
and said to him, `Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it
please you, I will give you another vineyard for it'; and he
answered, `I will not give you my vineyard.'"
7
And Jez'ebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern Israel?
Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you
the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal,
and she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who dwelt with
Naboth in his city.
9
And she wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth
on high among the people;
10
and set two base fellows opposite him, and let them bring a charge
against him, saying, `You have cursed God and the king.' Then take
him out, and stone him to death."
11
And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his
city, did as Jez'ebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the
letters which she had sent to them,
12
they proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
13
And the two base fellows came in and sat opposite him; and the base
fellows brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the
people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they
took him outside the city, and stoned him to death with stones.
14
Then they sent to Jez'ebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned; he
is dead."
15
As soon as Jez'ebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead,
Jez'ebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard
of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for
Naboth is not alive, but dead."
16
And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down
to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
PSALM:
Psalms 5: 2 - 3, 4 - 7
2
Hearken to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to thee do I
pray.
3
O LORD, in the morning thou dost hear my voice; in the morning I
prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch.
4
For thou art not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not
sojourn with thee.
5
The boastful may not stand before thy eyes; thou hatest all
evildoers.
6
Thou destroyest those who speak lies; the LORD abhors bloodthirsty
and deceitful men.
7
But I through the abundance of thy steadfast love will enter thy
house, I will worship toward thy holy temple in the fear of thee.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 5: 38 - 42
38
"You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth.'
39
But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one
strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also;
40
and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your
cloak as well;
41
and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42
Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow
from you.
