The Parable of the Sower. 1^* On another occasion^a he began to teach by the sea.^* A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.^b 2And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, 3^* “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. 6And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. 7Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. 8And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 9He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

The Purpose of the Parables. 10And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. 11^* He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, 12so that

‘they may look and see but not perceive,

and hear and listen but not understand,

in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’”^c

Job’s Seventh Reply. 1Then Job answered and said:

2Today especially my complaint is bitter,

his hand is heavy upon me in my groanings.

3Would that I knew how to find him,

that I might come to his dwelling!

4I would set out my case before him,

fill my mouth with arguments;

5I would learn the words he would answer me,

understand what he would say to me.

6Would he contend against me with his great power?

No, he himself would heed me!

7There an upright man might argue with him,

and I would once and for all be delivered from my judge.

1Awake, awake!

Put on your strength, Zion;

Put on your glorious garments,

Jerusalem, holy city.

Never again shall the uncircumcised

or the unclean enter you.

2Arise, shake off the dust,

sit enthroned, Jerusalem;

Loose the bonds from your neck,

captive daughter Zion!

3For thus says the LORD:

For nothing you were sold,

without money you shall be redeemed.

4For thus says the Lord GOD:

To Egypt long ago my people went down,

to sojourn there;

Assyria, too, oppressed them for nought.

5But now, what am I to do here?

—oracle of the LORD.

My people have been taken away for nothing;

their rulers mock, oracle of the LORD;

constantly, every day, my name is reviled.

6Therefore my people shall know my name

on that day, that it is I who speaks: Here I am!

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.^f 13No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.^g

Jesus, Compassionate High Priest. 14^* Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.^h 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.ⁱ 16So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.^j