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 the words are in.
Collections of or meditations on scriptures dealing principles similar to those addressed in particular readings are hyperlinked after those readings.
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 1: Amos 6:1a, 4-7
Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:
Woe to the complacent in Zion!
***
Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall!
Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment.
They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!
Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.
complacent = שַׁאֲנָן = ša'ănān Blue Letter Bible at ease, quiet, secure; careless, wanton, arrogant; security, pride; haughty; tranquil
lying = שָׁכַב = šāḵaḇ Blue Letter Bible to lie down; rest, relax; sleep; prostrate; pour out
stretched comfortably = סָרַח = sāraḥ Blue Letter Bible to go free, be unrestrained, be overrun, exceed, overhang, grow luxuriously; to extend (even to excess); exceeding; redundant; pouring out
wanton revelry—see “stretched comfortably” above
Scriptures addressing similar matters are collected or considered at:
Wisdom Principles--Diligence & Working
Wisdom Principles--Rely on God, not Material Power or Wealth
What we can learn from our okra: we are blessed so we can yield blessings
***
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
Blessed is he who keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just; the LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
praise = הָלַל = halal Blue Letter Bible to shine; to flash forth light; to praise, boast, be boastful; be commended; glory; rave, celebrate; to be clear, to be brilliant; to sing; to make bright or shining
soul = נֶפֶשׁ = nep̄eš Blue Letter Bible soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion; the inner being of man; seat of the appetites; seat of emotions and passions; the mode of feeling/acting, understanding and the faculty of thinking
Blessed = אֶשֶׁר = 'ešer Blue Letter Bible happiness, blessedness
keeps = שָׁמַר = šāmar Blue Letter Bible to keep, guard, observe, give heed; retain, treasure up (in memory); preserve; attend to
faith = אֱמֶת = 'ĕmeṯ Blue Letter Bible firmness, faithfulness, truth; sureness, reliability; stability, continuance; certainty, truth, trustworthiness; perpetuity; fidelity
forever = עוֹלָם = ôlām Blue Letter Bible long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient; forever, always; perpetuity; continuous existence, perpetual; everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity; time out of mind (past or future); always; unending
secures = עָשָׂה = ʿāśâ Blue Letter Bible to do, fashion, accomplish, make; work, make, produce; to deal (with); to act, act with effect, effect; to attend to, put in order; to observe, celebrate; accomplish, advance; follow, fulfill; be industrious, labor; yield; produce by labor
justice = מִשְׁפָּט = mišpāṭ Blue Letter Bible justice, right, rectitude; judgment, justice, ordinance; proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan; process, procedure, litigation; sentence, decision; execution; decision; verdict; sentence or formal decree; determination
oppressed = עָשַׁק = ʿāšaq Blue Letter Bible to press upon, oppress, violate, defraud, do violence, get deceitfully, wrong, extort, exploit, deceive
gives = נָתַן = nāṯan Blue Letter Bible to give, bestow, grant; consecrate, devote, dedicate; entrust, give over, deliver up; yield, produce; be (healed); pour; print; teach; to apply the heart to; to constitute, to make a thing like or similar to
food = לֶחֶם = leḥem Blue Letter Bible bread, food, grain; loaf, meat, victuals
hungry = רָעֵב = rāʿēḇ Blue Letter Bible hunger bitten, hungry, failing of strength, stricken with hunger
sets [] free = נָתַר = nāṯar Blue Letter Bible to loose, let loose, undo, be free, be loose; to unfasten, loosen; to set free, unbind; shake, spring up; shake off, untie; drive asunder, leap; undo; jump; tremble, palpitate
captives = אָסַר = 'āsar Blue Letter Bible to tie, bind, imprison; harness; to be imprisoned, bound; to be taken prisoner; to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense; bind, fast, gird, harness, hold, keep; order; put in bonds
gives sight = פָּקַח = pāqaḥ Blue Letter Bible to open (the eyes); to open (the senses, especially the eyes); to be observant; restore sight; to enable to see things otherwise hidden;
blind = עִוֵּר = ʿiûēr Blue Letter Bible blind (literally or figuratively); he helpless, groping; the dull, unreceptive; ignorant
raises = זָקַף = zāqap̄ Blue Letter Bible Comfort; raise (up)
just = צַדִּיק = ṣadîq Blue Letter Bible lawful, righteous; righteous (in government); righteous (in conduct and character); righteous (as justified and vindicated by God); honest, virtuous, pious
protects—see “keeps” above
strangers = גָּר = gār Blue Letter Bible sojourner; a temporary inhabitant; a newcomer lacking rights; foreigners; alien; guest; a person living outside of his native country; temporary dweller, new-comer
sustains = עוּד = ʿûḏ Blue Letter Bible to restore, relieve; to bear witness, testify, say again and again; to protest, affirm solemnly, warn, exhort or enjoin solemnly, admonish, charge; to return, repeat, go about, do again; to surround, go round and round; to encompass, restore; lift up
thwarts = עָוַת = ʿāvaṯ Blue Letter Bible to be bent, be crooked, bend, make crooked, pervert; subvert; to bend, make crooked; falsifying; overthrow
wicked = רָשָׁע = rāšāʿ Blue Letter Bible guilty one, one guilty of crime; hostile to God; against God or man; morally wrong; ungodly; unrighteous
reign = מָלַךְ = mālaḵ Blue Letter Bible to be or become king or queen; to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; to be king; to counsel, advise
generations = דּוֹר = dôr Blue Letter Bible period, age, generation (period of time); generation (those living during a period); generation (characterized by quality, condition, class of men); dwelling-place, habitation; a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; circuit of the years of life; forever and ever; including both past and future
Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:
Wisdom Principles--Caring for the weak & vulnerable
Wisdom Principles--We must strive for fair justice, to maintain the rule of law for all
Wisdom Principles--Ill Gotten Gains Do Not Last
Wisdom Principles--Don't Discriminate Against Foreigners
***
Reading 2: 1 Timothy 6:11-16
But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see.
To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
pursue = διώκω = diōkō. Blue Letter Bible Follow, follow after; to pursue without hostility; to put to flight, persecute; seek eagerly; to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after; to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal; to run after, follow after: someone; to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon cause to run, set in quick motion; chase; seek after; drive, drive on; urge, impel; prosecute
righteousness = δικαιοσύνη = dikaiosynē Blue Letter Bible integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting; the character or quality of being right or just; it was formerly spelled "rightwiseness"; faithfulness, or truthfulness; the sum total of the requirements of God; right action; state of him who is as he ought to be; the condition acceptable to God; virtue which gives each his due; a state approved of God; manifests itself in beneficence; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Justice, fulfillment of the Law
devotion = εὐσέβεια = eusebeia Blue Letter Bible piety characterized by a Godward attitude; reverence, respect; piety towards God, godliness; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon reverence towards the gods or parents, piety or filial respect; loyalty
faith = πίστις = pistis Blue Letter Bible firm persuasion, a conviction; trust; an assurance; trust and holy fervor; a strong and welcome conviction; belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence); the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things; a power that seizes upon the soul; fidelity, faithfulness; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Trust; persuasion of a thing, confidence, assurance; credit
love = ἀγάπη = agape Blue Letter Bible affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon the love of husband and wife; brotherly love, charity
patience = ὑπομονή = hypomone Blue Letter Bible patience; remaining under; steadfastness, constancy, endurance; the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon remaining behind; endurance, power to sustain, endure; enduring to do
gentleness = πραότης = praotēs Blue Letter Bible a meek disposition, meekness; gentleness, mildness, meekness; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon mildness, gentleness
compete = ἀγωνίζομαι = agōnizomai Blue Letter Bible to contend in the public games; laboring fervently; to fight, engage in conflict; to contend with adversaries; to contend perseveringly against opposition and temptation; struggle with difficulties and dangers; to endeavour with strenuous zeal; strive to obtain something; labor fervently; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon contend for a prize; fight; struggle, exert oneself; fight a cause to the last; contend in court
AND
ἀγών = agōn Blue Letter Bible contest for a prize any struggle or contest; a battle; intense solicitude, anxiety; a place of assembly: especially an assembly met to see games; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon struggle, battle; action at law; place of contest
Faith—see above
Lay hold = ἐπιλαμβάνομαι = epilambanomai Blue Letter Bible catch; lay hold; take by the hand; take possession of; overtake; attain, attain to; to seize anything with the hands; metaph. to rescue one from peril, to help, succour; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon take or get besides; take, receive; lay hold of, seize, attack; overtake, surprise; attain to, come within reach of, reach; seize, stop, esp. by pressure; occupy space, get over much ground, traverse it rapidly; undertake; assist; succeed, follow; hold oneself on by, lay hold of; attack; make a seizure of, arrest; lay hold of, get, obtain; having found an empty field, i.e. an absence of all competitors; attempt; undertake; touch on; take up, interrupt in speaking,
keep = τηρέω =tēreō Blue Letter Bible to guard; to watch over, keep, give heed to, observe; hold fast; to attend to carefully, take care of; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon watch over, take care of, guard; maintain; take care that; give heed to, watch narrowly, observe; notice; test by observation or trial; preserve, retain
Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:
Wisdom Principles--Rely on God, not Material Power or Wealth
***
Alleluia: Cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Lord = κύριος = kyrios Blue Letter Bible variously translated in the NT, "'Lord,' 'master,' 'Master,' 'owner,' 'Sir;' one who has the disposal of anything; one to whom service is due on any ground; one who exercises power; he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; the sovereign, prince, chief; a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence; supreme in authority; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon supreme power, authority; one invested with authority
rich = πλούσιος = plousios Blue Letter Bible wealthy, abounding in material resources; metaph. abounding, abundantly supplied; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon wealthy, opulent; ample, abundant
became poor = πτωχεύω = ptōcheuō Blue Letter Bible to be poor as a beggar; to be destitute; to become indigent; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon to be a beggar, go begging; to be as poor as a beggar; to be badly off
poverty = πτωχεία = ptōcheia Blue Letter Bible destitution; beggary; indigence; extreme poverty; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon beggary, mendicity
rich = πλουτέω = plouteō Blue Letter Bible to be rich, to have abundance, wealthy;to be richly supplied; affluent in resources so that he can give blessings; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon to be rich, wealthy; to be rich in a thing
***
Gospel: Luke 16:19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
rich = πλούσιος = plousios Blue Letter Bible wealthy, abounding in material resources; metaph. abounding, abundantly supplied; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon wealthy, opulent; ample, abundant
dined = εὐφραίνω = euphrainō Blue Letter Bible to cheer, gladden, to rejoice, make merry, faring sumptuously; to be happy, be delighted with a thing; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon , cheer, gladden, make merry, enjoy oneself, rejoice, enjoy a pleasure
sumptuously = λαμπρῶς = lamprōs Blue Letter Bible splendidly, magnificently; of sumptuous living; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon bright, radiant; clear, distinct; of vigorous action; without concealment; of persons, well-known, illustrious by deeds, station, etc; magnificent, munificent; bright, joyous; splendid, brilliant
poor man= πτωχός = ptōchos Blue Letter Bible one who crouches and cowers; reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms; destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour; lowly, afflicted, destitute; helpless, powerless to accomplish an end; destitute of wealth of learning and intellectual culture; absolute or public mendicancy; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Beggarly
received = ἀπολαμβάνω = apolambanō Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon take or receive from another; receive what is one's due; accept when tendered; take of, take a part of a thing; take away; hear, learn; regain, recover; have rendered to one; demand an account; take apart or aside; cut off, intercept
good = 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
bad = κακός = kakos Blue Letter Bible evil; amiss; bad in character; base, malignant, destructive, injurious; Grievous, Grievously; harm; miserable; badly ill; noisome; of a bad nature; not such as it ought to be; base, wrong, wicked; troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful; worthless; depraved; wrong, crime; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon ugly, ill born, mean; craven, base; bad of his kind, i. e. worthless, sorry, unskilled; wretched; evil, pernicious; abusive, foul; unlucky; ill; trouble, pest, nuisance
comforted = παρακαλέω = parakaleō Blue Letter Bible Beseech; denotes "to call to one's side," hence, "to call to one's aid;" exhort, urge; summon; to beg, entreat; call for; pray; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon call in, send for, summon; invoke; call upon; demand, require
tormented = ὀδυνάω = odynaō Blue Letter Bible to suffer pain, be in anguish, be greatly distressed; sorrowing; to cause pain; to cause intense pain; to be in anguish, be tormented; to torment or distress one's self; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon cause one pain or suffering; feel pain, suffer pain
great = μέγας = megas Blue Letter Bible high, mighty; eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power; things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance; things to be esteemed highly for their importance; a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent; splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately; God's preeminent blessings; strong; large; used of intensity and its degrees; distinguished; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon mighty; strong; of great importance; impressive; big; full grown; vast, high; very much, exceedingly
chasm = χάσμα = chasma Blue Letter Bible a great pit; a yawning abyss; precipice with a deep pit; a gaping opening; a gulf; a great interval; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon yawning chasm, gulf; open, gaping mouth; generally, any wide opening
listen to = ἀκούω = akouō Blue Letter Bible harkin to; to attend to, consider what is or has been said; to understand, perceive the sense of what is said; to give ear to a teaching or a teacher; to comprehend; to perceive anyone's voice; to yield to, hear and obey; have regard to; to perceive the distinct words of a voice; to yield obedience to the voice; to perceive in the soul; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon hearken, give ear; listen to; obey; hear and understand
persuaded = πείθω = peithō Blue Letter Bible yielded to; assure; to have confidence, trust; to suffer oneself to be persuaded; to have confidence, to be confident; influence; win over; bringing about a change of mind; to induce one by words to believe; to tranquillise; move or induce one to do something; to have faith in a thing; to believe; to convince; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon persuade; prevail upon; won over; obey; believe, trust
Scriptures addressing similar things are collected or considered at:
What we can learn from our okra: we are blessed so we can yield blessings
Wisdom Principles--Diligence & Working
Wisdom Principles--Rely on God, not Material Power or Wealth
Wisdom Principles--Caring for the Weak & Vulnerable
Wisdom Principles--It is Human Nature to Treat the Poor Poorly (but that doesn't make it right)
***
What these readings tell us about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.
keeps faith forever
secures justice for the oppressed
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
The LORD gives sight to the blind
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just
the LORD protects strangers.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains
the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever
through all generations
God, who gives life to all things
Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession
our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler
the King of kings and Lord of lords
who dwells in unapproachable light
To him be honor and eternal power
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich
When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'
What these readings tell us to do:
Praise the Lord [from you] soul
keep[] faith forever
Secure[] justice for the oppressed
Give[] food to the hungry.
set[] captives free.
Praise the Lord [from you] soul
raise[] up those who were bowed down.
the just
Protect[] strangers.
Praise the Lord [from you] soul
The fatherless and the widow [] sustain[]
the way of the wicked [] thwart[]
Praise the Lord [from you] soul
pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life
keep the commandment without stain or reproach
They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them
repent
listen to Moses and the prophets
Be persuaded
What these readings tell us not to do:
[be] complacent
Stretch[] comfortably
wanton revelry
dress[] in purple garments and fine linen and dine[] sumptuously each day
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