Ben Sira 4:20-31; Ben Sira 5:1-7; Revelation 7:1-8; Luke 9:51-62

Ben Sira 4:20-31

20 Observe the right time, and beware of evil; and do not bring shame on yourself.

21 For there is a shame which brings sin, and there is a shame which is glory and favor.

22 Do not show partiality, to your own harm, or deference, to your downfall.

23 Do not refrain from speaking at the crucial time, and do not hide your wisdom.

24 For wisdom is known through speech, and education through the words of the tongue.

25 Never speak against the truth, but be mindful of your ignorance.

26 Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, and do not try to stop the current of a river.

27 Do not subject yourself to a foolish fellow, nor show partiality to a ruler.

28 Strive even to death for the truth and the Lord God will fight for you.

29 Do not be reckless in your speech, or sluggish and remiss in your deeds.

30 Do not be like a lion in your home, nor be a faultfinder with your servants.

31 Let not your hand be extended to receive, but withdrawn when it is time to repay.

Ben Sira 5:1-7

1 Do not set your heart on your wealth, nor say, "I have enough."

2 Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart.

3 Do not say, "Who will have power over me?" for the Lord will surely punish you.

4 Do not say, "I sinned, and what happened to me?" for the Lord is slow to anger.

5 Do not be so confident of atonement that you add sin to sin.

6 Do not say, "His mercy is great, he will forgive the multitude of my sins," for both mercy and wrath are with him, and his anger rests on sinners.

7 Do not delay to turn to the Lord, nor postpone it from day to day; for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will go forth, and at the time of punishment you will perish.

Revelation 7:1-8

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.

2 Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea,

3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads."

4 And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel,

5 twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad,

6 twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand of the tribe of Naph'tali, twelve thousand of the tribe of Manas'seh,

7 twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand of the tribe of Is'sachar,

8 twelve thousand of the tribe of Zeb'ulun, twelve thousand of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin.

Luke 9:51-62

51 When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him;

53 but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.

54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?"

55 But he turned and rebuked them.

56 And they went on to another village.

57 As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head."

59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

60 But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home."

62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."