Daily Mass Readings for September 22, 2026: Gospel — Lc 8, 19-21

¹ The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants. ² All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the Lord evaluates his thoughts. ³ To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. ⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart— what the wicked cultivate is sin. ⁵ The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. ⁶ Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death. 1 0 :¹ The proverbs of Solomon:A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother. ² Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. ³ The Lord satisfies the appetite of the righteous, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. ⁴ The one who is lazy becomes poor, but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy. ⁵ The one who gathers crops in the summer is a wise son, but the one who sleeps during harvest is a shameful son. ⁶ Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the speech of the wicked conceals violence. ⁷ The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the reputation of the wicked will rot. ⁸ The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin. ⁹ The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely will be found out. 1 ⁰ The one who winks his eye causes trouble, and the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin. 1 ¹ The speech of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the speech of the wicked conceals violence. 1 ² Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions. 1 ³ Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person, but the one who lacks sense will be disciplined. 1 ⁴ Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction. 1 ⁵ The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city, but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty. 1 ⁶ The reward that the righteous receive is life; the recompense that the wicked receive is judgment. 1 ⁷ The one who heeds instruction is on the way to life, but the one who rejects rebuke goes astray. 1 ⁸ The one who conceals hatred utters lies, and the one who spreads slander is certainly a fool. 1 ⁹ When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise. 2 ⁰ What the righteous say is like the best silver, but what the wicked think is of little value. 2 ¹ The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of sense. 2 ² The blessing from the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow to it. 2 ³ Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment. 2 ⁴ What the wicked fears will come on him; what the righteous desire will be granted. 2 ⁵ When the storm passes through, the wicked are swept away, but the righteous are an everlasting foundation. 2 ⁶ Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. 2 ⁷ Fearing the Lord prolongs life, but the life span of the wicked will be shortened. 2 ⁸ The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked perishes. 2 ⁹ The way of the Lord is like a stronghold for the upright, but it is destruction to evildoers. 3 ⁰ The righteous will never be moved, but the wicked will not inhabit the land. 3 ¹ The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed. 3 ² The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing, but the speech of the wicked is perverse. 1 1 :¹ The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but an accurate weight is his delight. ² After pride came, disgrace followed; but wisdom came with humility. ³ The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. ⁴ Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. ⁵ The righteousness of the blameless will make their way smooth, but the wicked will fall through their own wickedness. ⁶ The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the treacherous will be ensnared by their own desires. ⁷ When a wicked person dies, his expectation perishes, and hope based on power has perished. ⁸ A righteous person was delivered out of trouble, then a wicked person took his place. ⁹ With his speech the godless person destroys his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous will be delivered. 1 ⁰ When the righteous do well, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there is joy. 1 ¹ A city is exalted by the blessing provided from the upright, but it is destroyed by the counsel of the wicked. 1 ² The one who denounces his neighbor lacks sense, but a discerning person keeps silent. 1 ³ The one who goes about slandering others reveals secrets, but the one who is trustworthy conceals a matter. 1 ⁴ When there is no guidance a nation falls, but there is success in the abundance of counselors. 1 ⁵ The one who has put up security for a stranger will surely have trouble, but whoever avoids shaking hands is secure. 1 ⁶ A generous woman gains honor, and ruthless men seize wealth. 1 ⁷ A kind person benefits himself, but a cruel person brings himself trouble. 1 ⁸ The wicked person earns deceitful wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a genuine reward. 1 ⁹ True righteousness leads to life, but the one who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. 2 ⁰ The Lord abhors those who are perverse in heart, but those who are blameless in their ways are his delight. 2 ¹ Be assured that the evil person will not be unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous have escaped harm. 2 ² Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who rejects discretion. 2 ³ The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. 2 ⁴ One person is generous and yet grows more wealthy, but another withholds more than he should and comes to poverty. 2 ⁵ A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied. 2 ⁶ People will curse the one who withholds grain, but they will praise the one who sells it. 2 ⁷ The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but the one who searches for evil—it will come to him. 2 ⁸ The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. 2 ⁹ The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person. 3 ⁰ The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise. 3 ¹ If the righteous are recompensed on earth, how much more the wicked sinner! 1 2 :¹ The one who loves discipline loves knowledge, but the one who hates reproof is stupid. ² A good person obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a person with wicked schemes. ³ No one can be established through wickedness, but a righteous root cannot be moved. ⁴ A noble wife is the crown of her husband, but the wife who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones. ⁵ The plans of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. ⁶ The words of the wicked lie in wait to shed innocent blood, but the words of the upright will deliver them. ⁷ The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the righteous household will stand. ⁸ A person will be praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one with a bewildered mind will be despised. ⁹ Better is a person of humble standing who works for himself, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food. 1 ⁰ A righteous person cares for the life of his animal, but even the most compassionate acts of the wicked are cruel. 1 ¹ The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks sense. 1 ² The wicked person has desired the stronghold of the wicked, but the root of the righteous will yield fruit. 1 ³ The evil person is ensnared by the transgression of his speech, but the righteous person escapes out of trouble. 1 ⁴ A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands will be rendered to him. 1 ⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise. 1 ⁶ A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent conceals dishonor. 1 ⁷ The faithful witness tells what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit. 1 ⁸ Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing. 1 ⁹ The one who tells the truth will endure forever, but the one who lies will last only for a moment. 2 ⁰ Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. 2 ¹ No harm will be directed at the righteous, but the wicked are filled with calamity. 2 ² The Lord abhors a person who lies, but those who deal truthfully are his delight. 2 ³ The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people proclaim folly. 2 ⁴ The diligent person will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor. 2 ⁵ Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy. 2 ⁶ The righteous person is cautious in his friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. 2 ⁷ The lazy person does not roast his prey, but personal possessions are precious to the diligent. 2 ⁸ In the path of righteousness there is life, but another path leads to death. 1 3 :¹ A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer has never listened to rebuke. ² From the fruit of his speech a person eats good things, but the treacherous desire the fruit of violence. ³ The one who guards his words guards his life; whoever is talkative will come to ruin. ⁴ The appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied. ⁵ The righteous person will reject anything false, but the wicked person will act in shameful disgrace. ⁶ Righteousness guards the one who lives with integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. ⁷ There is one who pretends to be rich and yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor and yet possesses great wealth. ⁸ The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth, thus the poor person has never heard a threat. ⁹ The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked goes out. 1 ⁰ With pride comes only contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised. 1 ¹ Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich. 1 ² Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is like a tree of life. 1 ³ The one who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but whoever esteems direction will be rewarded. 1 ⁴ Instruction from the wise is like a life-giving fountain, to turn a person from deadly snares. 1 ⁵ Keen insight wins favor, but the conduct of the treacherous ends in destruction. 1 ⁶ Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly. 1 ⁷ An unreliable messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. 1 ⁸ The one who neglects discipline ends up in poverty and shame, but the one who accepts reproof is honored. 1 ⁹ A desire fulfilled will be sweet to the soul, but fools abhor turning away from evil. 2 ⁰ The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. 2 ¹ Calamity pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous. 2 ² A good person leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren, but the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous. 2 ³ Abundant food may come from the field of the poor, but it is swept away by injustice. 2 ⁴ The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him. 2 ⁵ The righteous has enough food to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked will be empty.