Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.

Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.

If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;/ if you trust in God, you too shall live;/ he has set before you fire and water;/ to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand./ Before man are life and death, good and evil,/ whichever he chooses shall be given him./ Immense is the wisdom of the Lord;/ he is mighty in power, and all-seeing./ The eyes of God are on those who fear him;/ he understands man’s every deed./ No one does he command to act unjustly,/ to none does he give license to sin.

Jesus said to his disciples: [“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.

Jeroboam thought to himself: “The kingdom will return to David’s house.

Jeroboam left Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road.

Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.