Daily Readings

August 23, 2026

Daily Scripture for prayer and reflection

World English Bible

Bible translation:World English Bible (Catholic)Douay-RheimsWorld English Bible

First Reading

Isaiah 22:19-23

19I will thrust you from your office. You will be pulled down from your station.

20It will happen in that day that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,

21and I will clothe him with your robe, and strengthen him with your belt. I will commit your government into his hand; and he will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.

22I will lay the key of David's house on his shoulder. He will open, and no one will shut. He will shut, and no one will open.

23I will fasten him like a nail in a sure place. He will be for a throne of glory to his father's house.

Psalm

Psalm 138:1-3; Psalm 138:6; Psalm 138:8

1I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.

2I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.

3In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.

6For though the LORD is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.

8The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, LORD, endures forever. Don't forsake the works of your own hands.

Second Reading

Romans 11:33-36

33Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!

34"For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

35"Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?"

36For of him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.

Gospel

Matthew 16:13-20

13Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"

14They said, "Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

15He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

18I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

19I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven."

20Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.

Follow PrayLamp

Daily reflections, in your feed.

PrayLamp

Continue this daily reading in PrayLamp

A candlelit prayer routine.