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 the original Hebrew or Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue. It is provided beneath the specific reading they relate to.
Links to collections of other scriptures addressing principles similar to those set out in these readings are provided after each reading.
Excerpts collected in yellow at the end of this post tell us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.
Excerpts collected in green at the end of this post tell us about something God wants us to do.
Excerpts collected in red at the end of this post tell us about something God does not want us to do.
Reading I: Sirach 24:4-7
When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do one’s faults when one speaks.
As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in tribulation is the test of the just.
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind.
Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested.
Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at Wisdom Principles: The Power of Speech
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16
R (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night.
R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
They that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
They shall bear fruit even in old age; vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
Declaring how justis the LORD, my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
give thanks = יָדָה= yāḏâ Blue Letter Bible to throw, shoot, cast; laud, praise; to profess, confess;to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands);(make) confess(-ion); praise, celebrate
sing praises = זָמַר= zamar Blue Letter Bible to sing, to make music in praise of God, accompanied by the voice; to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it, to pluck;to celebrate in song and music; to dance; hum, murmur
proclaim = נָגַד= nāḡaḏ Blue Letter Bible to be conspicuous, tell, make known; to tell, announce, report; make known, expound; to inform of; to publish, declare; to avow, acknowledge, confess; stand boldly out; to manifest;to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); to expose, predict, explain, praise; profess; utter; be in front, be in sight; celebrate with praise; be courageous, vigorous, effective, be apparent; declare, make known, expound, especially of something before not understood, concealed or mysterious
kindness = חֶסֶד= ḥeseḏ Blue Letter Bible goodness, kindness, faithfulness; favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy; kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy; lovely appearance; of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures; redemption from enemies and troubles;in preservation of life from death; in quickening of spiritual life; in redemption from sin; in keeping the covenants; fidelity; abundant, plenteous in kindness (goodness); greatness of thy mercy; everlasting; plural mercies, deeds of kindness, the historic displays of lovingkindness; desire, ardor; zeal; benignity, benevolence, pity, mercy; grace
faithfulness = אֱמוּנָה= 'ĕmûnâ Blue Letter Bible firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness; literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity
dawn = בֹּקֶר= bōqer Blue Letter Bible morning, break of day, end of night, coming of daylight; bright joy after night of distress
night = לַיִל= layil Blue Letter Bible literally, night as opposed to day; figuratively;of gloom, adversity, calamity, misery, personal distress; protective shadow
just = צַדִּיק= ṣadîq Blue Letter Bible just, lawful, righteous;righteous (in government); righteous (in conduct and character); righteous (as justified and vindicated by God); honest, virtuous, pious
flourish = פָּרַח= pāraḥ Blue Letter Bible to bud, sprout, send out shoots, blossom; to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the wings); abundantly; break out, burst forth
grow = שָׂגָה= śāḡâ Blue Letter Bible increase; to enlarge (especially upward, also figuratively); become great
planted = שָׁתַל= šāṯal Blue Letter Bible to transplant; plant
bear fruit = נוּב= nûḇ Blue Letter Bible to sprout, germinate; to produce; to make to flourish; make cheerful; increase; to utter
old age = שֵׂיבָה= śêḇâ Blue Letter Bible gray hair, hoary head, old age
vigorous = דָּשֵׁן= dāšēn Blue Letter Bible fat, stalwart; rich, fertile; juicy, full of sap
sturdy = רַעֲנָן= raʿănān Blue Letter Bible to be or grow luxuriant or fresh or green; fresh, flourishing; verdant; metaphorically, happy
just = יָשָׁר= yāšār Blue Letter Bible straight, upright, correct, right; level, pleasing; straightforward, just, upright, fitting, proper; righteous; even
rock = צוּר= ṣûr Blue Letter Bible rock, cliff; a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous); strength
Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at: Wisdom Principles: God’s Ways Give Security
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:54-58
Brothers and sisters:
When this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:
Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
corruptible = φθαρτός = phthartos Blue Letter Bible perishing, perishable; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon destructible, perishable
clothes itself = ἐνδύω = endyō Blue Letter Bible clothe, wear; to sink into (clothing), clothe one's self; array, endue; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, An Intermediate Greek-English Lexiconto go into; assume the person of; to enter, to press into; clothe
incorruptibility = ἀφθαρσία = aphtharsia Blue Letter Bible purity, sincerity, incorrupt; genuineness, sincerity; a condition associated with glory and honor and life, including perhaps a moral significance; perpetuity; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon integrity, sincerity; incorruption, immortality
mortal = θνητός = thnētos Blue Letter Bible liable to death, mortal; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon liable to death, mortal; befitting mortals, human
immortality = ἀθανασία = athanasia Blue Letter Bible deathlessness; undying, immortality, everlasting
victory = νῖκος = nikos Blue Letter Bibleto utterly vanquish; conquest, triumph
firm = ἑδραῖος = hedraios Blue Letter Bible steadfast; metaphorical of moral fixity; firm, immovable; settled; sitting, sedentary; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon steady, steadfast; permanently appointed; sitting, sedentary
steadfast = ἀμετακίνητος = ametakinētos Blue Letter Bible firm, immoveable, unmovable; not to be moved from its place, unmoved;metaph. firmly persistent; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon not to be moved from place to place, immovable; unmoved
always = πάντοτε = pantote Blue Letter Bible at all times; evermore
fully devoted = περισσεύω = perisseuō Blue Letter BibleAbundance, Abundant, Abundantly, Abound;exceeding a certain number, or measure, to be over; superfluity; to be pre-eminent, to excel; to make to abound; to be more than enough, to be pre-eminent, superior; to be over and above; remain; to exist or be at hand in abundance; a thing which comes in abundance, or overflows unto one, something falls to the lot of one in large measure; to be in affluence; to furnish one richly; to make excellent; to superabound; to cause to excel; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon to be over and above; to be more than enough, remain over; abundance; to be superfluous; more than enough of; to be better than; abound more and more; make to abound; make longer
work = ἔργον = ergon Blue Letter Bible work, employment, task; business, employment, that which any one is occupied; that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking; to work; toil (as an effort or occupation); any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, mind; a benefaction; what harmonizes with the order of society, a good deed, noble action;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon works of industry; tillage, tilled lands; occupations; deed, action; that which is wrought or made, work; result of work, profit or interest; business; hard work, difficult to do
labor = κόπος = kopos Blue Letter Bible a striking, beating; toil resulting in weariness, laborious toil, trouble; labor, trouble, toil; intense labour united with trouble and toil; the labor to which love prompts, and which voluntarily assumes and endures trouble and pains for others; that which such toil in teaching accomplishes; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon striking, beating; toil and trouble, suffering; fatigue, weariness; work, exertion
Alleluia: Philippians 2:15d, 16a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia
Shine = φαίνω = phainō Blue Letter Bible to be brought forth into light, to become evident, to appear; be manifest; give light; to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light;be bright or resplendent; of growing vegetation, to come to light;exposed to view; to meet the eyes, strike the sight, become clear or manifest; to appear to the mind, seem to one's judgment or opinion; lighten; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon bring to light, cause to appear; exhibit; uncover, make known, reveal, disclose; show forth; to make or ring clear; set forth, expound; give light; come into being; manifest
lights = φωστήρ = phōstēr Blue Letter Bible a luminary, light, or light-giver; that which gives light, an illuminator; light, brightness; brilliancy; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon that which gives light; the lights of heaven, stars; splendour, radiance; opening for light, door or window
hold on to = ἐπέχω = epechō Blue Letter Bible to direct towards, to give attention to, gave heed; to look; to hold one's mind towards, to observe; to wait in a place, to stay; to have or hold upon, apply, to observe, attend to; retain; mark, stay
word = λόγος = logos Blue Letter Bible a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea; the sayings of God; the moral precepts given by God; what is declared, a thought, declaration, aphorism, a weighty saying, a dictum, a maxim; doctrine, teaching; reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating, reasoning, calculating; the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe;a distinct word, intelligible speech; decree, mandate, order; instruction; preaching; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon computation, reckoning; measure; esteem; explanation; statement of a theory, argument, discourse; proposition; rule, principle, law, precept;; rule of conduct; thinking, reasoning; idea, thought; continuous statement, narrative; verbal expression or utterance; expression, utterance, speech regarded formally; the Word or Wisdom of God, personified as his agent in creation and world-government
life = ζωή= zōē Blue Letter Bible the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate;of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical; life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed
Gospel: Luke 6:39-45
Jesus told his disciples a parable,
“Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A goodperson out of the store of goodnessin his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”
blind = τυφλός = typhlos Blue Letter Bible blind; mentally blind;opaque (as if smoky); darkened by smoke; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon blind; lacking vision; blind to; dark, dim, obscure
disciple =μαθητής = mathētēs Blue Letter Bible a learner; pupil; one who follows one's teaching; not only a pupil, but an adherent and imitators of their teacher; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon learner, pupil, student; apprentice
fully trained = καταρτίζω = katartizō Blue Letter Bible to make fit, to equip, prepare; to render complete; furnish completely, equip, prepare; to complete thoroughly; to prepare, perfect; ethically, to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be; to mend, repair, restore; to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair; to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon adjust, put in order, restore; mend; restore to a right mind, reconcile;furnish, equip; prepare, make ready
perceive = βλέπω = blepō Blue Letter Bible Behold, perceive, take heed; “to look, see," usually implying more especially an intent, earnest contemplation; "to have sight, to see," then, "observe, discern, perceive," frequently implying special contemplation; to see, discern; to turn the eyes to anything: to look at, look upon, gaze at; to perceive by the senses, to feel; to have (the power of) understanding; to discern mentally, observe, perceive, discover, understand; to turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, to consider, contemplate, to look at, to weigh carefully, examine; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon see, have the power of sight; look; look longingly, expect, propose; look to a thing, beware; see, behold
notice = διαβλέπω = diablepō Blue Letter Bible look steadfastly; to look through, penetrate by vision; to look fixedly, stare straight before one; to look through, i.e. recover full vision; to see clearly; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexiconstare with eyes wide open; see clearly
remove = ἐκβάλλω = ekballō Blue Letter Bibledrive out, to send out; to draw out, extract; to bring out of, to draw or bring forth; to lead one forth or away somewhere with a force which he cannot resist;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon throw or cast out of; throw out or away; divorce; strike out; let fall, drop; throw away, cast aside, reject; recall, repudiate; go out, depart
good = καλός = kalos Blue Letter Bible beautiful, fair, in appearance; to look well, lit., "to be fair of face,” goodly, fair, beautiful,admirable, becoming; beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable; shapely, magnificent; excellent in its nature and characteristics, and therefore well adapted to its ends; well adapted to its circumstances or ends; valuable or virtuous for appearance or use; expedient, profitable, wholesome; affecting the mind agreeably, comforting and confirming; that which is ethically good, right, noble, honorable, honest; genuine, approved; praiseworthy, noble;purity of heart and life; right, proper, becoming; honorable; conferring honor; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon beautiful, beauteous, fair,beautiful of form; the decencies, proprieties, elegancies of life; auspicious; moral beauty, virtue; well, rightly, deservedly
fruit = καρπός = karpos Blue Letter Bible that which is produced by the inherent energy of a living organism; the visible expression of power working inwardly and invisibly; advantage, profit;sanctification; that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result;work, act, deed; utility; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon the fruits of the earth, corn, harvest, produce; taxes paid in kind; eed with seed-vessel; returns, profits; reward
good, goodness = ἀγαθός = agathos Blue Letter Bible useful, salutary; good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; excellent, distinguished; upright, honourable;excelling in any respect, distinguished; corresponds to the figurative expression 'good ground', and denotes a soul inclined to goodness, and accordingly eager to learn saving truth and ready to bear the fruits; due to divine efficiency;benevolent, kind, generous; what is salutary, suited to the course of human affairs; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon brave, valiant; good, capable; serviceable; blessing, benefit
store = θησαυρός = thēsauros Blue Letter Bible a place of safe keeping; a storehouse; place in which good and precious things are collected and laid up; storehouse, repository, magazine; he things laid up in a treasury, collected treasures; wealth; something precious; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon store, treasure; strong-room, magazine; treasuries; vaults; granary; receptacle for valuables, safe
produces = προφέρω = propherō Blue Letter Bible to bring forth; bear forward; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon bring before or to one, present; display; put or move forward; bring forth
Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at Wisdom Principles: We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to Receive All that God Offers, But It Is Well Worth It
What these readings tell us about God/His ways:
When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do one’s faults when one speaks
tribulation is the test of the just
one’s speech disclose[s] the bent of one’s mind
Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow
They that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you
They shall bear fruit even in old age; vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
the LORD,my rock, in whom there is no wrong
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you
The sting of death is sin
God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
in the Lord your labor is not in vain
No disciple is superior to the teacher
when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher
A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit
every tree is known by its own fruit
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks
What these readings tell us to do:
give thanks
give thanks to the LORD
sing praise
proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night.
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you
The just one
planted in the house of the LORD
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you
bear fruit even in old age
Declaring how just is the LORD
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you
clothes itself with incorruptibility
clothes itself with immortality
be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord
Shine like lights in the world
hold on to the word of life
perceive the wooden beam in your own
notice the wooden beam in your own eye
Remove the wooden beam from your eye first
bear good fruit
produces good
What these readings tell us not to do:
Praise no one before he speaks
notice the splinter in your brother’s eye
