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Begin the music, strike the timbrel,
play the melodious harp and lyre.

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Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;

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this is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

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When God went out against Egypt,
he established it as a statute for Joseph.
I heard an unknown voice say:

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"I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.

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In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.[c]

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Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!

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You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.

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I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

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"But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.

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So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.

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"If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,

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how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!

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Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.

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But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

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When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:

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"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.

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If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this person your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.

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But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.

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For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

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Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.

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But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

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and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."