November 15th, 2003, Wednesday of the 32nd week in ordinary time.

A reading from the Book of Wisdom.

Hear O kings and understand, learn you magistrates of the earth's expense.

Harken you who are in power over the multitude and lord it over throngs of people. Because authority

was given you by the Lord and sovereignty by the Most High, who shall probe your works

and scrutinize your counsels? Because though you were ministers of His kingdom, you judged

not rightly and did not keep the law, nor walk according to the will of God.

Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you, because judgment is stern for the exalted,

for the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy, but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.

For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness,

because he himself made the great as well as the small,

and he provides for all alike.

But for those in power, a rigorous scrutiny impends.

To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed,

that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin. For those who keep the

holy precepts hollowed shall be found holy. And those learned in them will have ready a response.

Desire therefore my words, long for them, and you shall be instructed. The word of the Lord.

The responsorial psalm.

The response is,

Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.

Defend the lowly and the fatherless.

Render justice to the afflicted and the destitute.

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