Give Us Clean Hands and Pure Hearts--Nov. 29, 2015

Give us clean hands and pure hearts, O God;

forbid that we should sell the righteous

for silver, or the needy

for a pair of sandals,

or lift up our souls to what is false.

As for the things we see and treasure now,

the day will come when not one stone

will be left upon another;

all will be thrown down.

Therefore let us be sober,

and put on the breastplate

of faith and love, and for a helmet

the hope of salvation; we belong to the day.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 24; 150; 25; 110

Amos 1:1-5, 1:13-2:8

1 Thess. 5:1-11

Luke 21:5-19

Selected Verses

Ps. 24:4

Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,

            who do not lift up their souls to what is false,

            and do not swear deceitfully.

Amos 2:6

Thus says the LORD:

For three transgressions of Israel,

            and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;

because they sell the righteous for silver,

            and the needy for a pair of sandals …

1 Thess. 5:8

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Luke 21:5-6

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, [Jesus] said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down."