Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

Israel Speaks Arrogantly Against God

¹³ “You have spoken arrogantly^(A) against me,” says the Lord.

“Yet you ask,^(B) ‘What have we said against you?’

¹⁴ “You have said, ‘It is futile^(C) to serve^(D) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements^(E) and going about like mourners^(F) before the Lord Almighty? ¹⁵ But now we call the arrogant^(G) blessed. Certainly evildoers^(H) prosper,^(I) and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”

The Faithful Remnant

¹⁶ Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.^(J) A scroll^(K) of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared^(L) the Lord and honored his name.

¹⁷ “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my^(M) treasured possession.^(N) I will spare^(O) them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son^(P) who serves him. ¹⁸ And you will again see the distinction between the righteous^(Q) and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.^(R)

Judgment and Covenant Renewal

4 ^[a]“Surely the day is coming;^(S) it will burn like a furnace.^(T) All the arrogant^(U) and every evildoer will be stubble,^(V) and the day that is coming will set them on fire,^(W)” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch^(X) will be left to them. ² But for you who revere my name,^(Y) the sun of righteousness^(Z) will rise with healing^(AA) in its rays. And you will go out and frolic^(AB) like well-fed calves. ³ Then you will trample^(AC) on the wicked; they will be ashes^(AD) under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.

⁴ “Remember the law^(AE) of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb^(AF) for all Israel.^(AG)

⁵ “See, I will send the prophet Elijah^(AH) to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.^{(AI) 6} He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children,^(AJ) and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike^(AK) the land with total destruction.”^(AL)

The Prayer of Faith

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.^(A) Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.^{(B) 14} Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders^(C) of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil^(D) in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith^(E) will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins^(F) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.^(G) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.^(H)

¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are.^(I) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.^{(J) 18} Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.^(K)

¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth^(L) and someone should bring that person back,^{(M) 20} remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save^(N) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.^(O)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ To some who were confident of their own righteousness^(A) and looked down on everyone else,^(B) Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray,^(C) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself^(D) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast^(E) twice a week and give a tenth^(F) of all I get.’

¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast^(G) and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’^(H)

¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”^(I)