Thursday of the 25th week of Ordinary Time

2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” 3What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? 4One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. 5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. 7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. 8All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. 10Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.

3You turn man to destruction, saying,

“Return, you children of men.”

4For a thousand years in your sight are just like yesterday when it is past,

like a watch in the night.

5You sweep them away as they sleep.

In the morning they sprout like new grass.

6In the morning it sprouts and springs up.

By evening, it is withered and dry.

…

12So teach us to count our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13Relent, LORD!

How long?

Have compassion on your servants!

14Satisfy us in the morning with your loving kindness,

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

…

17Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us.

Establish the work of our hands for us.

Yes, establish the work of our hands.

7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9Herod said, “I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him.