Monday of the 11th week of Ordinary Time

1And after these things, in that time, there was a vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, who was in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab, the king of Samaria. 2Therefore, Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying: “Give your vineyard to me, so that I may make for myself a garden of herbs. For it is nearby and is beside my house. And I will give to you, in place of it, a better vineyard. Or if you consider it to be more convenient for you, I will give you the price in silver, whatever it is worth.” 3Naboth responded to him, “May the Lord be gracious to me, lest I give to you the inheritance of my fathers.” 4Then Ahab went into his house, angry and gnashing his teeth over the word that Naboth, the Jezreelite, had spoken to him, saying, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And casting himself on his bed, he turned away his face to the wall, and he would not eat bread. 5Then Jezebel, his wife, entered to him, and she said to him: “What is this matter, by which your soul has been saddened? And why do you not eat bread?” 6And he responded to her: “I spoke to Naboth, the Jezreelite, and I said to him: ‘Give your vineyard to me, and accept money. Or if it pleases you, I will give to you a better vineyard, in place of it.’ And he said, ‘I will not give my vineyard to you.’ ” 7Then Jezebel, his wife, said to him: “You are of great authority, and you rule well in the kingdom of Israel. Rise up and eat bread, and be even-tempered. I will give the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, to you.” 8And so, she wrote letters in the name of Ahab, and she sealed these with his ring. And she sent to those greater by birth, and to the nobles who were in his city and living with Naboth. 9And this was the judgment of the letters: “Proclaim a fast, and cause Naboth to sit among the first rulers of the people. 10And send out two men, sons of Belial, against him. And let them speak the false testimony: ‘He has blasphemed God and king.’ And then lead him away, and stone him, and so let him die.” 11Then his fellow citizens, those greater by birth and the nobles who were living with him in the city, did just as Jezebel had instructed them, and just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them. 12They proclaimed a fast, and they caused Naboth to sit among the first rulers of the people. 13And bringing forward two men, sons of the devil, they caused them to sit opposite him. And they, acting indeed like diabolical men, spoke testimony against him before the multitude: “Naboth has blasphemed God and king.” For this reason, they led him away, beyond the city, and they put him to death by stoning. 14And they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned, and he has died.” 15Then it happened that, when Jezebel had heard that Naboth was stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab: “Rise up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, who was not willing to acquiesce to you, and to give it to you in exchange for money. For Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16And when Ahab had heard this, namely, that Naboth was dead, he rose up and descended to the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, so that he might take possession of it.

2O Lord, listen closely to my words. Understand my outcry.

3Attend to the voice of my prayer, my King and my God.

4For to you, I will pray. In the morning, Lord, you will hear my voice.

5In the morning, I will stand before you, and I will see. For you are not a God who wills iniquity.

6And the malicious will not dwell close to you, nor will the unjust endure before your eyes.

7You hate all who work iniquity. You will destroy all who speak a lie. The bloody and deceitful man, the Lord will abominate.

38You have heard that it was said: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil, but if anyone will have struck you on your right cheek, offer to him the other also. 40And anyone who wishes to contend with you in judgment, and to take away your tunic, release to him your cloak also. 41And whoever will have compelled you for one thousand steps, go with him even for two thousand steps. 42Whoever asks of you, give to him. And if anyone would borrow from you, do not turn away from him.