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Psalm 142

1  I cry aloud to the Lord; ♦︎
   to the Lord I make my supplication.
2  I pour out my complaint before him ♦︎
   and tell him of my trouble.
3  When my spirit faints within me, you know my path; ♦︎
   in the way wherein I walk have they laid a snare for me.
4  I look to my right hand, and find no one who knows me; ♦︎
   I have no place to flee to, and no one cares for my soul.
5  I cry out to you, O Lord, and say: ♦︎
   ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.
6  ‘Listen to my cry, for I am brought very low; ♦︎
   save me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
7  ‘Bring my soul out of prison,
      that I may give thanks to your name; ♦︎
   when you have dealt bountifully with me,
      then shall the righteous gather around me.’

Trust and Joy in the Midst of Trouble

¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not blossom,
   and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails
   and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
   and there is no herd in the stalls,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
   I will exult in the God of my salvation.
¹⁹ God, the Lord, is my strength;
   he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
   and makes me tread upon the heights.^*

To the leader: with stringed^* instruments.

The Parable of the Ten Pounds

11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. ¹²So he said, ‘A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. ¹³He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds,^* and said to them, “Do business with these until I come back.” ¹⁴But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to rule over us.” ¹⁵When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. ¹⁶The first came forward and said, “Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.” ¹⁷He said to him, “Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.” ¹⁸Then the second came, saying, “Lord, your pound has made five pounds.” ¹⁹He said to him, “And you, rule over five cities.” ²⁰Then the other came, saying, “Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, ²¹for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” ²²He said to him, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? ²³Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.” ²⁴He said to the bystanders, “Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.” ²⁵(And they said to him, “Lord, he has ten pounds!”) ²⁶“I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ²⁷But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.” ’