Scripture readings:

Mark 15:1–15

And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. 

Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Psalm 7:6–17

Arise, O Lord, in your anger; 
lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; 
awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. 
Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; 
over it return on high. 

The Lord judges the peoples; 
judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness 
and according to the integrity that is in me. 
Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, 
and may you establish the righteous— 
you who test the minds and hearts, 
O righteous God! 
My shield is with God, 
who saves the upright in heart. 
God is a righteous judge, 
and a God who feels indignation every day. 

If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; 
he has bent and readied his bow; 
he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, 
making his arrows fiery shafts. 
Behold, the wicked man conceives evil 
and is pregnant with mischief 
and gives birth to lies. 
He makes a pit, digging it out, 
and falls into the hole that he has made. 
His mischief returns upon his own head, 
and on his own skull his violence descends. 

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, 
and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016).