Isaiah 57:3–13; Galatians 5:25–6:10; Mark 9:14–29

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Isaiah 57:3–13

But you, draw near,

sons of the sorceress,

uoffspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.

Whom are you mocking?

Against whom vdo you open your mouth wide

and stick out your tongue?

Are you not children of wtransgression,

xthe offspring of deceit,

you who burn with lust among ythe oaks,1

under every green tree,

zwho slaughter your children in the valleys,

under the clefts of the rocks?

Among the smooth stones of athe valley is your portion;

they, they, are your lot;

to them you have poured out a drink offering,

you have brought a grain offering.

Shall I relent for these things?

bOn a high and lofty mountain

you have set your bed,

and there you went up to offer sacrifice.

Behind the door and the doorpost

you have set up your memorial;

for, deserting me, cyou have uncovered your bed,

you have gone up to it,

dyou have made it wide;

and you have made a covenant for yourself with them,

you have loved their bed,

you have looked on nakedness.2

You journeyed to the king with oil

and multiplied your perfumes;

eyou sent your envoys far off,

and sent down even to Sheol.

10  You were wearied with the length of your way,

fbut you did not say, It is hopeless;

you found new life for your strength,

and so you were not faint.3

11  gWhom did you dread and fear,

hso that you lied,

and did not remember me,

did not lay it to heart?

iHave I not held my peace, even for a long time,

and you do not fear me?

12  I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,

but they will not profit you.

13  jWhen you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!

The wind will carry them all off,

a breath will take them away.

kBut he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land

and shall inherit lmy holy mountain.


Galatians 5:25–6:10

25 If we live by the Spirit, mlet us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 nLet us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

Brothers,1 oif anyone is caught in any transgression, pyou who are spiritual should restore him in qa spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. rBear one another’s burdens, and sso fulfill tthe law of Christ. For uif anyone thinks he is something, vwhen he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one wtest his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For xeach will have to bear his own load.

yLet the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. zDo not be deceived: God is not mocked, for awhatever one sows, that will he also reap. For bthe one who sows to his own flesh cwill from the flesh reap corruption, but dthe one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And elet us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, fif we do not give up. 10 So then, gas we have opportunity, let us hdo good to everyone, and especially to those who are iof the household of faith.


Mark 9:14–29

Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

14 jAnd when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, kwere greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, What are you arguing about with them? 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has la spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and mthey were not able. 19 And he answered them, O nfaithless generation, nhow long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me. 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it oconvulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, How long has this been happening to him? And he said, From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But pif you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. 23 And Jesus said to him, pIf you can! qAll things are possible for one who believes. 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out1 and said, I believe; rhelp my unbelief! 25 And when Jesus saw that sa crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, tYou mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. 26 And after crying out and oconvulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus utook him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had ventered the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could we not cast it out? 29 And he said to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.2