August 18, 2027

6Then all the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and made Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem. 7When this was reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim and cried out in a loud voice: “Hear me, lords of Shechem, and may God hear you! 8One day the trees went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ 9But the olive tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my rich oil, whereby gods and human beings are honored, and go off to hold sway over the trees?’ 10Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come; you reign over us!’ 11But the fig tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my sweetness and my sweet fruit, and go off to hold sway over the trees?’ 12Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come you, reign over us.’ 13But the vine answered them, ‘Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and human beings, and go off to hold sway over the trees?’ 14Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, ‘Come; you reign over us!’ 15The buckthorn answered the trees, ‘If you are anointing me in good faith, to make me king over you, come, and take refuge in my shadow. But if not, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

2I - LORD, the king finds joy in your power; in your victory how greatly he rejoices! 3You have granted him his heart’s desire; you did not refuse the request of his lips. Selah 4For you welcomed him with goodly blessings; you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 5He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever. 6Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendor you confer upon him. 7You make him the pattern of blessings forever, you gladden him with the joy of your face.

12Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

1“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ 5So they went off. [And] he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. 6Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ 8When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ 9When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. 10So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. 11And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ 13He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? 15[Or] am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ 16Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” The Third Prediction of the Passion.