Old Testament: Hosea 11:1-11

¹When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. ²The more I called them, the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols. ³Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. ⁴I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them. ⁵They shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. ⁶The sword rages in their cities, it consumes their oracle-priests, and devours because of their schemes. ⁷My people are bent on turning away from me. To the Most High they call, but he does not raise them up at all.

⁸How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. ⁹I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. ¹⁰They shall go after the Lord, who roars like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west. ¹¹They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will return them to their homes, says the Lord.

Psalm: Psalm 107:1-9, 43

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, *
        and his mercy endures for ever.
² Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim *
        that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
³ He gathered them out of the lands; *
        from the east and from the west,
        from the north and from the south.
⁴ Some wandered in desert wastes; *
        they found no way to a city where they might dwell.
⁵ They were hungry and thirsty; *
        their spirits languished within them.
⁶ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *
        and he delivered them from their distress.
⁷ He put their feet on a straight path *
        to go to a city where they might dwell.
⁸ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy *
        and the wonders he does for his children.
⁹ For he satisfies the thirsty *
        and fills the hungry with good things.

⁴³ Whoever is wise will ponder these things, *
        and consider well the mercies of the Lord.

Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23

²Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

¹²I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, ¹³applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. ¹⁴I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. ¹⁸I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me ¹⁹—and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. ²⁰So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, ²¹because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.²²What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? ²³For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

Psalm: Psalm 49:1-11

¹ Hear this, all you peoples;
  hearken, all you who dwell in the world, *
       you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.
² My mouth shall speak of wisdom, *
        and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
³ I will incline my ear to a proverb *
        and set forth my riddle upon the harp.
⁴ Why should I be afraid in evil days, *
        when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me,
⁵ The wickedness of those who put their trust in their goods, *
        and boast of their great riches?
⁶ We can never ransom ourselves, *
        or deliver to God the price of our life;
⁷ For the ransom of our life is so great, *
         that we should never have enough to pay it,
⁸ In order to live for ever and ever, *
         and never see the grave.
⁹ For we see that the wise die also;
  like the dull and stupid they perish *
        and leave their wealth to those who come after them.
¹⁰ Their graves shall be their homes for ever,
    their dwelling places from generation to generation, *
        though they call the lands after their own names.
¹¹ Even though honored, they cannot live for ever; *
        they are like the beasts that perish.