Daily Reading for Wednesday, February 21st, 2024

Reading 1, Jonah 3:1-10

¹ The word of Yahweh was addressed to Jonah a second time.

² 'Up!' he said, 'Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to it as I shall tell you.'

³ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of Yahweh. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare; to cross it took three days.

⁴ Jonah began by going a day's journey into the city and then proclaimed, 'Only forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown.'

⁵ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least.

⁶ When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes.

⁷ He then had it proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles, as follows: 'No person or animal, herd or flock, may eat anything; they may not graze, they may not drink any water.

⁸ All must put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil ways and violent behaviour.

⁹ Who knows? Perhaps God will change his mind and relent and renounce his burning wrath, so that we shall not perish.'

¹⁰ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil ways. And God relented about the disaster which he had threatened to bring on them, and did not bring it.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19

³ For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind.

⁴ Against you, you alone, I have sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong, that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence, and your victory may appear when you give judgement,

¹² Give me back the joy of your salvation, sustain in me a generous spirit.

¹³ I shall teach the wicked your paths, and sinners will return to you.

¹⁸ In your graciousness do good to Zion, rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹ Then you will delight in upright sacrifices,-burnt offerings and whole oblations -- and young bulls will be offered on your altar.

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