The Wartburg Project

Daily Lectionary

May 29, 2024

May 28, 2024 May 30, 2024

These daily readings from the EHV follow the one-year daily lectionary provided in Christian Worship: Hymnal, the Lutheran Service Book, and the Treasury of Daily Prayer. In this lectionary, two readings of 15-25 verses each are provided for each day. Under this plan, nearly all of the New Testament and approximately one-third of the Old Testament are read each year. These readings fit well within the daily offices of Matins, Vespers, or Compline as daily family devotions.

Ecclesiastes 6:1-7:10

61There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, a common burden that people bear:[] 2God gives somebody wealth, riches, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of everything that he craves, but God does not give him the opportunity to eat it. Instead, a stranger eats it. This is vapor, and a sickening evil.
3A man may father a hundred children and live many years, but if his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, no matter how many days he lives, I say, “A stillborn baby is better off than he is.” 4Why? Because that baby comes like a vapor and leaves in darkness, and its name gets covered in darkness. 5The baby does not see the sun or know it,[] but it enjoys more peaceful rest than that man does, 6even if that man would live a thousand years two times without enjoying good things. They all go to the same place, don't they?
7All of a man's hard work is to feed his mouth, but his appetite[] never feels satisfied.
8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? What advantage does a poor man gain, who knows how to keep walking among the living?[] 9Better to have eyes that look at what is actually there than desires that roam. This too is vapor and chasing the wind.
10Whatever exists already has its name,[] and it is already known what man is. He is not able to win in court against one who is stronger than he is.[]
11Yes, the more words,[] the more vapor. What advantage does a man have?
12For who knows what is good for a man in life, in the few days of his life that vanishes like vapor, that passes like a shadow?[] Who will tell the man what will be after him, under the sun?
What Is Better?
71A good reputation is better than the best perfume, and the day of one's death is better than the day of his birth. 2Better to go to a funeral than to a feast,[] since death is the final destination for all mankind. The living must take this to heart! 3Grief is better than laughter, because a sad face does a heart good. 4The hearts of the wise think about the funeral, but the hearts of fools think about the feast.
5It is better to hear a rebuke from a wise man than to listen to a happy song from fools, 6for the fool's laughter sounds like thorns crackling under a cooking pot. This too is vapor.
7To be sure, oppressing others[] turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts his heart.
8It is better to finish something than to begin something. A patient spirit is better than a proud spirit.
9Do not be quick to lose your temper, for outrage is embraced by fools.
10Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” Wisdom would not lead you to ask such a question.

John 8:21-38

21So he told them again, “I am going away. You will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
22So the Jews asked, “He won't kill himself, will he, because he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
23“You are from below,” he told them. “I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am the one, you will die in your sins.”
25“Who are you?” they asked.
Jesus replied, “What I have been telling you from the beginning. 26I have many things to say and to judge concerning you. But the one who sent me is true. And what I heard from him, these are the things I am telling the world.” 27They did not understand that he was talking to them about the Father.
28So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one, and that I do nothing on my own. But I speak exactly as the Father taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”
30As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples. 32You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33“We are Abraham's descendants,” they answered, “and we have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be set free’?”
34Jesus answered, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Everyone who keeps committing sin is a slave to sin. 35But a slave does not remain in the family forever. A son does remain forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because there is no place for my word in you. 38I am telling you what I have seen at the side of the Father. As for you, you do what you have heard[] at the side of your father.”