First reading
The godless say, “Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, who makes life inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; who reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training.
“Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous one is God’s son, God will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries.
“Let us test him with insult and torture, so that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected.”