This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks will take you to additional translations. The entire chapter is included to provide context.
Information about the meaning of the original Hebrew of Greek and other versions’ translations of italicized words is provided in blue beneath each reading.
Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.
Text in green tells us about something God wants us to do.
Text in red describes what God tells us not to do.
A collection of scriptures addressing similar principles can be found at: Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin
Reading 1
Thus says the LORD: You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, he does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
turns, turned = שׁוּב
to return, turn back;to restore, refresh, repair; to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish; to bring back to mind; to turn one’s self
Responsorial Psalm
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your love are from of old.
The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not; in your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Mercies, compassion = רַחַ
Tender love, (great, tender) mercy, pity, very tender affection; pity, grace, favour
King James Version, English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, American Standard Version, Young’s Literal Translation, Darby Translation, Webster’s Bible, Hebrew Names Version:
“mercies”
Reading 2
If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others.
Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
hear = ἀκούω
Hearken; to attend to, consider what is or has been said; to understand, perceive the sense of what is said; to give ear; to comprehend, to understand; to perceive anyone's voice; to yield to, hear and obey; to yield obedience to the voice.
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
listen to, give ear to;hear and understand; hear oneself called, be called; understand, take
Gospel
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
"What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not, ' but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, ‘but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?"
They answered, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."
believe = πιστεύω = pisteuō
to be persuaded of, to place confidence in, to trust; reliance upon, not mere credence; to entrust, commit to; to credit, place confidence in; to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity;
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
trust, put faith in, rely on; comply; feel confident that a thing is, will be, has been; entrust something to another
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What these readings tell us about God:
But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, he does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life
your mercies, O Lord.
your truth
you are God my savior.
your mercies, O Lord.
your compassion
your love
your kindness
your goodness,
your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD
he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice
teaches the humble his way.
your mercies, O Lord.
encouragement in Christ
solace in love
he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
at the name of Jesus every knee should bend
every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
What these readings tell us to do:
turns from the wickedness he has committed
humble
humble
participation in the Spirit
compassion and mercy
being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing
humbly regard others as more important than yourselves
looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others
Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus
he emptied himself
taking the form of a slave
humbled himself
obedient
every knee should bend
every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
hear my voice
follow me
afterwards changed his mind and went.
believe
change your minds
believe him
What these readings tell us not to do:
turns away from virtue
grasped
