The Parable of the Persistent Widow. 1^* Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.^a He said, 2“There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. 3And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ 4For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, 5^{* b} because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” 6The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. 7Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? 8I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

16Now then, stand ready to witness the great marvel the LORD is about to accomplish before your eyes. 17Are we not in the harvest time for wheat?^* Yet I will call upon the LORD, and he will send thunder and rain. Thus you will see and understand how great an evil it is in the eyes of the LORD that you have asked for a king.”^j 18Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day.

Assistance Promised. Then all the people feared the LORD and Samuel. 19They said to Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for us, your servants, that we may not die for having added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.” 20“Do not fear,” Samuel answered them. “You have indeed committed all this evil! Yet do not turn from the LORD, but serve him with your whole heart. 21Do not turn aside to gods who are nothing,^* who cannot act and deliver. They are nothing.^k 22For the sake of his own great name^* the LORD will not abandon his people, since the LORD has decided to make you his people.^l 23As for me, far be it from me to sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you and to teach you the good and right way.^m 24But you must fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart, for you have seen the great things the LORD has done among you. 25If instead you continue to do evil, both you and your king shall be swept away.”

1^* Comfort, give comfort to my people,

says your God.

2Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and proclaim to her

that her service^* has ended,

that her guilt is expiated,

That she has received from the hand of the LORD

double for all her sins.^a

3A voice proclaims:^*

In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD!

Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!^b

4Every valley shall be lifted up,

every mountain and hill made low;

The rugged land shall be a plain,

the rough country, a broad valley.

5Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

and all flesh shall see it together;

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

6A voice says, “Proclaim!”

I answer, “What shall I proclaim?”

“All flesh is grass,

and all their loyalty like the flower of the field.^c

7The grass withers, the flower wilts,

when the breath of the LORD blows upon it.”

“Yes, the people is grass!

8The grass withers, the flower wilts,

but the word of our God stands forever.”

9Go up onto a high mountain,

Zion, herald of good news!^*

Cry out at the top of your voice,

Jerusalem, herald of good news!

Cry out, do not fear!

Say to the cities of Judah:

Here is your God!

10Here comes with power

the Lord GOD,

who rules by his strong arm;

Here is his reward with him,

his recompense before him.

11Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;

in his arms he gathers the lambs,

Carrying them in his bosom,

leading the ewes with care.^d

1^* Let mutual love continue. 2Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.^a 3Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body.^b 4Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers.^c 5Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.”^d 6Thus we may say with confidence:

“The Lord is my helper,

[and] I will not be afraid.

What can anyone do to me?”^e