Bible Readings - June 24, 2025

Reading I

Genesis 13:1-18

From Egypt Abram went up to the Negeb with his wife

and all that belonged to him, and Lot went with him.

Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.

From the Negeb he traveled by stages toward Bethel,

to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly stood,

the site where he had first built the altar; and there Abram

invoked the LORD by name.

Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,

so that the land could not support them if they stayed together;

their possessions were so great that they could not live together.

There were quarrels between the herders of Abram’s livestock

and the herders of Lot’s livestock. At this time the Canaanites

and the Perizzites were living in the land.

So Abram said to Lot: “Let there be no strife between you and me,

or between your herders and my herders, for we are kindred.

Is not the whole land available? Please separate from me. If you prefer the left,

I will go to the right; if you prefer the right, I will go to the left.”

Lot looked about and saw how abundantly watered the whole Jordan Plain

was as far as Zoar, like the LORD’s own garden, or like Egypt.

This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plain and set out eastward.

Thus they separated from each other.

Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain,

pitching his tents near Sodom.

Now the inhabitants of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.

After Lot had parted from him, the LORD said to Abram: Look about you,

and from where you are, gaze to the north and south, east and west;

all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever.

I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth;

if anyone could count the dust of the earth, your descendants too might be counted.

Get up and walk through the land, across its length and breadth,

for I give it to you.

Abram moved his tents and went on to settle near the oak of Mamre,

which is at Hebron. There he built an altar to the LORD.

Psalm 139:19-24; 34:2-11

When you would destroy the wicked, O God,

the bloodthirsty depart from me!

Your foes who conspire a plot against you

are exalted in vain.

Do I not hate, LORD, those who hate you?

Those who rise against you, do I not loathe?

With fierce hatred I hate them,

enemies I count as my own.

Probe me, God, know my heart;

try me, know my thoughts.

See if there is a wicked path in me;

lead me along an ancient path.

I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be always in my mouth.

My soul will glory in the LORD;

let the poor hear and be glad.

Magnify the LORD with me;

and let us exalt his name together.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me,

delivered me from all my fears.

Look to him and be radiant,

and your faces may not blush for shame.

This poor one cried out and the LORD heard,

and from all his distress he saved him.

The angel of the LORD encamps

around those who fear him, and he saves them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the stalwart one who takes refuge in him.

Fear the LORD, you his holy ones;

nothing is lacking to those who fear him.

The rich grow poor and go hungry,

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Gospel

Matthew 7:6-14

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,

lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;

and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread,

or a snake when he asks for a fish?

If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

This is the law and the prophets.

“Enter through the narrow gate;

for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,

and those who enter through it are many.

How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.

And those who find it are few.