Year A – Proper 14
Full-text of the Appointed Lessons (RSV and NRSV), with instructions for lectors
August 9 – 11 Pentecost – RCL
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
11 Pentecost (Proper 14), Year A, August 9, 2026
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob, is deeply resented by his brothers for his status as their father’s favorite. They act on their rage toward Joseph by throwing him into a pit.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of Genesis:
(Lead in with) RSV: Jacob dwelt in the land…; NRSV: Jacob settled in the land…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Jacob dwelt in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. This is the history of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought an ill report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more /than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers, and with the flock; and bring me word again.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a man found him wandering in the fields; and the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said, “tell me, I pray you, where they are pasturing the flock.” And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.'” So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild beast has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; cast him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him” –that he might rescue him out of their hand, to restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and cast him into a pit. The pit was empty, there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers heeded him. Then Midianite traders passed by; and they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver; and they took Joseph to Egypt.
New Revised Standard Version
Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” He answered, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron. He came to Shechem, and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said; “tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” The man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers agreed. When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
ILLUMINATION for the Alternate First Lesson
11 Pentecost (Proper 14), Year A, August 9, 2026
1 Kings 19:9-18
God makes himself known to Elijah in stillness. He then gives Elijah a new mission, and promises that he will spare those who are faithful.
A reading (lesson) from the First Book of Kings:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: At Horeb…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
At Horeb the mount of God, Elijah came to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And him who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Ba’al, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
New Revised Standard Version
At Horeb, the mount of God, Elijah came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” Then the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
11 Pentecost (Proper 14), Year A, August 9, 2026
Romans 10:5-15
Paul declares that the way to salvation is to confess that Jesus is Lord and to believe that God raised him from the dead.
A reading (lesson) from the Letter of Paul to the Romans:
(Lead in with) RSV: Moses writes that…; NRSV: Moses writes concerning …
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. For, “every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”
New Revised Standard Version
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
11 Pentecost (Proper 14), Year A, August 9, 2026
Matthew 14:22-33
When Jesus’ disciples are caught in a terrifying storm offshore, he comes to them across the water and tells them not to be afraid. Jesus’ words can also calm anxious hearts in our own day.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Jesus made the disciples get in the boat…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The Gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
August 9 – 11 Pentecost – BCP
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
11 Pentecost (Proper 14), Year A, August 9, 2026
Jonah 2:1-9
Jonah refuses God’s directive to call the people of Ninevah to repentance, but he repents after he ends up in the belly of a giant fish.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of Jonah:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Jonah prayed to the Lord…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying, “I called to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and thou didst hear my voice. For thou didst cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood was round about me; all thy waves and thy billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am cast out from thy presence; how shall I again look upon thy holy temple?’ The waters closed in over me, the deep was round about me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me for ever; yet thou didst bring up my life from the Pit, O LORD my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer came to thee, into thy holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their true loyalty. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to thee; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the LORD!”
New Revised Standard Version
Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying, “I called to the LORD out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; how shall I look again upon your holy temple?’ The waters closed in over me; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped around my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the Pit, O LORD my God. As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the LORD!”
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
11 Pentecost (Proper 14), Year A, August 9, 2026
Romans 9:1-5
Paul grieves that Israel has rejected Jesus, but reaffirms that the people of the Old Covenant are the source of the law, and the Messiah himself.
A reading (lesson) from the Letter of Paul to the Romans:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: I am speaking the truth …
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen by race. They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed for ever. Amen.
New Revised Standard Version
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit—I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
11 Pentecost (Proper 14), Year A, August 9, 2026
Matthew 14:22-33
When Jesus’ disciples are caught in a terrifying storm offshore, he comes to them across the water and tells them not to be afraid. Jesus’ words can also calm anxious hearts in our own day.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Jesus made the disciples get in the boat…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Living Word | Lectionary Preaching Aids
Exploring the Texts
“Family values, then as now, are complicated; love and hate have often kissed each other. From the mess of human lives and the dysfunction of human families, however, some good may come. God will do what God will do.”
“Could it be that Joseph reads dreams precisely because he was once in a pit, and again in a prison? ‘His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron’ (Ps. 105:18). Unable to move, he could think, he could dream, he could see what others do not see.”
“As the disciples in a boat are often used to symbolize the Church, there is a parallel here to the vision of St. Paul: ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’ Our Lord does not disdain to experience the opposition that his Church faces.”
Preaching Today
Rob McSwain: Holding Onto the Dream
“That is, we have apparently lost the capacity to see one another as truly human and precious in the eyes of God. We thus need to relearn how to see the world, and one another, properly. That’s where Dr. King’s dream can help us. We need to have our imaginations rebooted. We need new prophets, we need new dreams, we need new visions.”
Jon Jordan: A Long Obedience
“The mundane daily grind offers little more than mental satisfaction that I am not as lazy as I think I am. But the cumulation of this daily act of running — ‘a long obedience in the same direction’ — simply does produce results. The same is true, I have found, of praying the Daily Office.”
Paul Wheatley: Master Over the Chaos
“Jesus walks across the water. He doesn’t run. He doesn’t fly across with thunderbolts coming from his fingers to chase away the winds. Jesus walks to them because when darkness covered the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters at the beginning, the Son of God was master over the chaos of the deep.”
Classic Texts
Martin Luther: On the Contrary
“Joseph’s brothers say, ‘Come, let us kill Joseph!’ God on the contrary says, ‘Let him live and preserve him unharmed.’ They say, ‘We will bury him in a pit.’ God says, ‘Raise him up.’”
John Chrysostom: Training Them
“Christ did not remove the darkness, nor straightway make himself manifest, training them, as I said, by the continuance of these fears, and instructing them to be ready to endure.”
Kenneth Kirk: It Is I
“‘It is I’ — in the sense which we read out of our text — means this: ‘It is I, the Spirit of Jesus in the Church — the Spirit given in baptism, renewed in confirmation, strengthened by communion in the sacramental body and blood of Jesus — it is I who am present, year in, year out, for the comfort of all who need me.’”
Articles on Family
David Ney: Scripture and the Mystery of Procreation
“The story of marital strife, female barrenness, sibling rivalry, family discord, and national crisis is never simply the story of fathers and mothers and their offspring. It is always, at the same time, the story of God working through and within fallen procreative history to accomplish the purification and salvation of his people through his Son.”
Boone Porter: Christ and the Family
“Evidently, Jesus saw that the traditional old-world family could be very debilitating to the vocations of individual persons. At the same time, he speaks strongly of concern for children, marital fidelity, and care for parents.”
Esau McCaulley: The River at Eastertide
“Through the death and resurrection of the Messiah Jesus, the new temple, the healing waters flow to the nations. At the heart of the celebration of Easter, then, is God’s vision for the healing of all his people. The Cross ends the enmity over the water: the Cushites, the Assyrians, and the Israelites are reconciled. We become a family, the Church.”
Articles on Seeking
“Salvation is free but not free of effort. We do our part. We press on to the upward call of God in Christ. We fight the good fight. We endure. We ask, seek, and knock. We push our way to Jesus, though it is always Jesus himself, by a grace that precedes and follows us, calling us forward.”
Christopher Coombe: A Millennial’s Open Letter to the Church
“In the Christian narrative we find answers to the most pressing and eternal questions. Does my life have purpose? Yes, it does. Does life have meaning? Beyond measure. Does the human being have dignity? The kingdom of heaven is literally within us. … And is there really a God? Yes, and he loves you. Deal with it.”
Edward Watson: Seeking Wisdom in the Spaces of Schism
“We must give glory to Wisdom by seeking Her where She wills to be found — in the spaces between factions of reason, which we must explore in love and humility so as to come to know each other anew in Christ.”
Articles on Deliverance
Wes Hill: Covenant Care in the Wilderness
“God is simply focused on the people’s survival in the desert, leading them like a shepherd through a minefield of dangers and setbacks. It isn’t about pinpointing the unbelief of Israel, which often goes hand in hand with self-congratulation …. These stories are instead about establishing, at the outset of Israel’s journey toward the Promised Land, God’s promise to be not only rescuer but also attendant, not only deliverer but also provider.”
Eugene Schlesinger: The Fullness of Time
“The long patience of God left unanswered the cries of the incarnate Christ, allowing him to sink down into death. And the long patience of God continued to wait all through Holy Saturday. Until, finally, in the light of Easter, those cries to be delivered from death were answered and the Savior was raised into immortality. By some measures, this answer might seem to have come three days too late, but in the wisdom of God, it was perfect timing.”
Sarah Cornwell: Leaving Prison
“We have been held captive a long time. And for some of us, life on the inside hasn’t been so bad. Sure, the idea of freedom seems nice, but our lives are so predictable now.”
