The Sin Offering

Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: When someone sins unintentionally(A) against any of the Lord’s commands and does anything prohibited by them—

“If the anointed priest[a](B) sins, bringing guilt(C) on the people, he is to present to the Lord a young, unblemished(D) bull as a sin[b] offering(E) for the sin he has committed. He must bring the bull to the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the Lord. The anointed priest must then take some of the bull’s blood and bring it into the tent of meeting. The priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times(F) before the Lord in front of the veil(G) of the sanctuary.(H) The priest must apply some of the blood to the horns of the altar of fragrant incense(I) that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. He must pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering(J) that is at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering: the fat surrounding the entrails, all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat on them at the loins. He will also remove the fatty lobe of the liver with the kidneys, 10 just as the fat is removed from the ox of the fellowship sacrifice.(K) The priest is to burn them on the altar of burnt offering. 11 But the hide(L) of the bull and all its flesh, with its head and shanks, and its entrails and dung— 12 all the rest of the bull—he must bring to a ceremonially clean place(M) outside the camp(N) to the ash heap, and must burn it on a wood fire. It is to be burned at the ash heap.

13 “Now if the whole community of Israel(O) errs,(P) and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly,(Q) so that they violate any of the Lord’s commands and incur guilt(R) by doing what is prohibited, 14 then the assembly must present a young bull as a sin offering. When the sin they have committed in regard to the command becomes known, they are to bring it before the tent of meeting. 15 The elders(S) of the community are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the Lord and it is to be slaughtered before the Lord. 16 The anointed priest will bring some of the bull’s blood into the tent of meeting. 17 The priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord in front of the veil. 18 He is to apply some of the blood to the horns of the altar that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. He must pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 He is to remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar. 20 He is to offer this bull just as he did with the bull in the sin offering; he will offer it the same way. So the priest will make atonement(T) on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.(U) 21 Then he will bring the bull outside the camp(V) and burn it just as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly.

22 “When a leader[c](W) sins and unintentionally violates any of the commands of the Lord his God by doing what is prohibited, and incurs guilt, 23 or someone informs him about the sin he has committed, he is to bring an unblemished male goat(X) as his offering. 24 He is to lay his hand on the head of the goat and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering(Y) is slaughtered before the Lord. It is a sin offering.(Z) 25 Then the priest must take some of the blood from the sin offering with his finger and apply it to the horns of the altar of burnt offering.(AA) The rest of its blood he must pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering. 26 He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the fellowship sacrifice. In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf for that person’s sin, and he will be forgiven.

27 “Now if any of the common people[d] sins unintentionally by violating one of the Lord’s commands, does what is prohibited, and incurs guilt, 28 or if someone informs him about the sin he has committed, then he is to bring an unblemished female goat as his offering for the sin that he has committed. 29 He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. 30 Then the priest must take some of its blood with his finger and apply it to the horns of the altar of burnt offering. He must pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 31 He is to remove all its fat just as the fat is removed from the fellowship sacrifice. The priest is to burn it on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf, and he will be forgiven.

32 “Or if the offering that he brings as a sin offering is a lamb,(AB) he is to bring an unblemished female. 33 He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it as a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. 34 Then the priest must take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and apply it to the horns of the altar of burnt offering. He must pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 35 He is to remove all its fat just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the fellowship sacrifice. The priest will burn it on the altar along with the fire offerings to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

Cases Requiring Sin Offerings

“When someone sins in any of these ways:

If he has seen, heard, or known about something he has witnessed, and did not respond to a public call to testify, he is responsible for his sin.(AC)

Or if someone touches anything unclean(AD)—a carcass of an unclean wild animal,(AE) or unclean livestock, or an unclean swarming creature[e](AF)—without being aware of it, he is unclean and guilty.(AG)

Or if he touches human uncleanness(AH)—any uncleanness by which one can become defiled(AI)—without being aware of it, but later recognizes it, he is guilty.

Or if someone swears rashly(AJ) to do what is good or evil—concerning anything a person may speak rashly in an oath—without being aware of it, but later recognizes it, he incurs guilt in such an instance.[f]

If someone incurs guilt in one of these cases, he is to confess(AK) he has committed that sin. He must bring his restitution(AL) for the sin he has committed to the Lord: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement(AM) on his behalf for his sin.

“But if he cannot afford an animal from the flock, then he may bring to the Lord two turtledoves or two young pigeons(AN) as restitution for his sin—one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. He is to bring them to the priest, who will first present the one for the sin offering. He must twist its head at the back of the neck without severing it.(AO) Then he will sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood is to be drained out at the base of the altar;(AP) it is a sin offering. 10 He must prepare the second bird as a burnt offering according to the regulation.(AQ) In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

11 “But if he cannot afford[g] two turtledoves or two young pigeons,(AR) he may bring two quarts[h] of fine[i] flour[j](AS) as an offering for his sin. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12 He is to bring it to the priest, who will take a handful from it as its memorial portion(AT) and burn it on the altar along with the fire offerings to the Lord; it is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf concerning the sin he has committed in any of these cases, and he will be forgiven. The rest will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.”(AU)

The Restitution Offering

14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 15 “If someone offends(AV) by sinning unintentionally(AW) in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things,[k] he must bring his restitution offering to the Lord: an unblemished ram from the flock (based on your assessment of its value in silver shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel(AX)) as a restitution offering. 16 He must make restitution(AY) for his sin regarding any holy(AZ) thing, adding a fifth of its value to it,(BA) and give it to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf with the ram of the restitution offering, and he will be forgiven.(BB)

17 “If someone sins and without knowing it violates any of the Lord’s commands concerning anything prohibited, he bears the consequences of his guilt. 18 He must bring an unblemished ram from the flock according to your assessment of its value as a restitution offering to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the error he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven. 19 It is a restitution offering; he is indeed guilty before the Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 4:3 Probably the high priest; Lv 6:22
  2. Leviticus 4:3 Or purification
  3. Leviticus 4:22 Or ruler
  4. Leviticus 4:27 Lit the people of the land
  5. Leviticus 5:2 Perhaps a fish, insect, rodent, or reptile; Gn 1:20; Lv 11:20-23,29-31
  6. Leviticus 5:4 Lit in one of such things
  7. Leviticus 5:11 Lit if his hand is not sufficient for
  8. Leviticus 5:11 Lit one-tenth of an ephah
  9. Leviticus 5:11 Or wheat; Ex 29:2
  10. Leviticus 5:11 Lit flour as a sin offering
  11. Leviticus 5:15 Things dedicated to the Lord such as tabernacle furnishings, priestly portions of the sacrifices, tenths, firstfruits, and firstborn livestock

The Sin Offering

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally(A) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands(B)

“‘If the anointed priest(C) sins,(D) bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull(E) without defect(F) as a sin offering[a](G) for the sin he has committed.(H) He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord.(I) He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it there before the Lord. Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood(J) and carry it into the tent of meeting. He is to dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle(K) some of it seven times before the Lord,(L) in front of the curtain of the sanctuary.(M) The priest shall then put some of the blood on the horns(N) of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. The rest of the bull’s blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar(O) of burnt offering(P) at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He shall remove all the fat(Q) from the bull of the sin offering—all the fat that is connected to the internal organs, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys(R) 10 just as the fat is removed from the ox[b](S) sacrificed as a fellowship offering.(T) Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.(U) 11 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, as well as the head and legs, the internal organs and the intestines(V) 12 that is, all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp(W) to a place ceremonially clean,(X) where the ashes(Y) are thrown, and burn it(Z) there in a wood fire on the ash heap.(AA)

13 “‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally(AB) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt 14 and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must bring a young bull(AC) as a sin offering(AD) and present it before the tent of meeting. 15 The elders(AE) of the community are to lay their hands(AF) on the bull’s head(AG) before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord.(AH) 16 Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull’s blood(AI) into the tent of meeting. 17 He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle(AJ) it before the Lord(AK) seven times in front of the curtain. 18 He is to put some of the blood(AL) on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord(AM) in the tent of meeting. The rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar(AN) of burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 He shall remove all the fat(AO) from it and burn it on the altar,(AP) 20 and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement(AQ) for the community, and they will be forgiven.(AR) 21 Then he shall take the bull outside the camp(AS) and burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the community.(AT)

22 “‘When a leader(AU) sins unintentionally(AV) and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the Lord his God, when he realizes his guilt 23 and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat(AW) without defect. 24 He is to lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the Lord.(AX) It is a sin offering.(AY) 25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar(AZ) of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.(BA) 26 He shall burn all the fat on the altar as he burned the fat of the fellowship offering. In this way the priest will make atonement(BB) for the leader’s sin, and he will be forgiven.(BC)

27 “‘If any member of the community sins unintentionally(BD) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, when they realize their guilt 28 and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering(BE) for the sin they committed a female goat(BF) without defect. 29 They are to lay their hand on the head(BG) of the sin offering(BH) and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering.(BI) 30 Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering(BJ) and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 31 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar(BK) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(BL) In this way the priest will make atonement(BM) for them, and they will be forgiven.(BN)

32 “‘If someone brings a lamb(BO) as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect.(BP) 33 They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it(BQ) for a sin offering(BR) at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered.(BS) 34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.(BT) 35 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the lamb of the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar(BU) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

“‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify(BV) regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.(BW)

“‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground)(BX) and they are unaware that they have become unclean,(BY) but then they come to realize their guilt; or if they touch human uncleanness(BZ) (anything that would make them unclean)(CA) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath(CB) to do anything, whether good or evil(CC) (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess(CD) in what way they have sinned. As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat(CE) from the flock as a sin offering[c];(CF) and the priest shall make atonement(CG) for them for their sin.

“‘Anyone who cannot afford(CH) a lamb(CI) is to bring two doves or two young pigeons(CJ) to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck,(CK) not dividing it completely,(CL) and is to splash(CM) some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar;(CN) the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar.(CO) It is a sin offering. 10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way(CP) and make atonement(CQ) for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.(CR)

11 “‘If, however, they cannot afford(CS) two doves or two young pigeons,(CT) they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah[d](CU) of the finest flour(CV) for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. 12 They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial[e] portion(CW) and burn it on the altar(CX) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest will make atonement(CY) for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest,(CZ) as in the case of the grain offering.(DA)’”

The Guilt Offering

14 The Lord said to Moses: 15 “When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally(DB) in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty(DC) a ram(DD) from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.[f](DE) It is a guilt offering.(DF) 16 They must make restitution(DG) for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value(DH) and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.

17 “If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it,(DI) they are guilty and will be held responsible.(DJ) 18 They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering(DK) a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven.(DL) 19 It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of[g] wrongdoing against the Lord.”(DM)

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 4:3 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
  2. Leviticus 4:10 The Hebrew word can refer to either male or female.
  3. Leviticus 5:6 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
  4. Leviticus 5:11 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
  5. Leviticus 5:12 Or representative
  6. Leviticus 5:15 That is, about 2/5 ounce or about 12 grams
  7. Leviticus 5:19 Or offering; atonement has been made for their

The Call of Matthew

13 Then(A) Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to Him, and He taught(B) them. 14 Then, moving on, He saw Levi(C) the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office,(D) and He said to him, “Follow Me!”(E) So he got up and followed(F) Him.

Dining with Sinners

15 While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors(G) and sinners(H) were also guests[a](I) with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him. 16 When the scribes(J) of the Pharisees[b](K) saw that He was eating(L) with sinners(M) and tax collectors,(N) they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat[c] with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need(O) a doctor,(P) but the sick(Q) do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous,(R) but sinners.”(S)

A Question about Fasting

18 Now(T) John’s(U) disciples(V) and the Pharisees[d](W) were fasting.(X) People came and asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests[e] cannot fast while the groom(Y) is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the time[f] will come(Z) when the groom is taken away from them,(AA) and then they will fast(AB) in that day. 21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth,(AC) and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine(AD) into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst(AE) the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins.[g] But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Lord of the Sabbath

23 On(AF) the Sabbath He was going through the grainfields, and His disciples(AG) began to make their way picking some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees(AH) said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful(AI) on the Sabbath?”

25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David(AJ) and those who were with him did when he was in need(AK) and hungry(AL) 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar(AM) the high priest(AN) and ate the sacred bread(AO)—which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests(AP)—and also gave some to his companions?” 27 Then He told them, “The Sabbath was made for[h] man and not man for[i] the Sabbath.(AQ) 28 Therefore, the Son of Man(AR) is Lord(AS) even of the Sabbath.”(AT)

The Man with the Paralyzed Hand

Now(AU) He entered the synagogue(AV) again, and a man was there who had a paralyzed(AW) hand. In order to accuse(AX) Him, they were watching Him closely(AY) to see whether He would heal(AZ) him on the Sabbath.(BA) He told the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stand before us.”[j] Then He said to them, “Is it lawful(BB) on the Sabbath to do what is good(BC) or to do what is evil,(BD) to save life(BE) or to kill?”(BF) But they were silent.(BG) After looking around at them with anger(BH) and sorrow at the hardness(BI) of their hearts, He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.(BJ) Immediately the Pharisees(BK) went out and started plotting(BL) with the Herodians(BM) against Him, how they might destroy(BN) Him.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 2:15 Lit reclining (at the table); at important meals the custom was to recline on a mat at a low table and lean on the left elbow.
  2. Mark 2:16 Other mss read scribes and Pharisees
  3. Mark 2:16 Other mss add and drink
  4. Mark 2:18 Other mss read the disciples of John and of the Pharisees
  5. Mark 2:19 Lit The sons of the bridal chamber
  6. Mark 2:20 Lit the days
  7. Mark 2:22 Other mss read the wine spills out and the skins will be ruined
  8. Mark 2:27 Or because of
  9. Mark 2:27 Or because of
  10. Mark 3:3 Lit Rise up in the middle

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners(A)

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him,(B) and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”(C) Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(D) saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”(E)

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”(F)

Jesus Questioned About Fasting(G)

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting.(H) Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them,(I) and on that day they will fast.

21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(J)(K)

23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.(L) 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”(M)

25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest,(N) he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat.(O) And he also gave some to his companions.”(P)

27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man,(Q) not man for the Sabbath.(R) 28 So the Son of Man(S) is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue,(T) and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely(U) to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.(V) Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians(W) how they might kill Jesus.(X)

Psalm 36

Human Wickedness and God’s Love

For the choir director. A psalm of David, the Lord’s servant.

An oracle within my heart
concerning the transgression of the wicked person:
There is no dread of God before his eyes,(A)
for in his own eyes he flatters himself too much
to discover and hate his sin.(B)
The words of his mouth are malicious and deceptive;(C)
he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.(D)
Even on his bed he makes malicious plans.(E)
He sets himself on a path that is not good
and does not reject evil.(F)

Lord, Your faithful love reaches to heaven,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.(G)
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains;
Your judgments, like the deepest sea.(H)
Lord, You preserve man and beast.(I)
God, Your faithful love is so valuable
that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.(J)
They are filled from the abundance of Your house;
You let them drink from Your refreshing stream,(K)
for with You is life’s fountain.(L)
In Your light we will see light.(M)

10 Spread Your faithful love over those who know You,
and Your righteousness over the upright in heart.(N)
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant man come near me
or the hand of the wicked one drive me away.(O)
12 There the evildoers fall;
they have been thrown down and cannot rise.(P)

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Psalm 36[a]

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.

I have a message from God in my heart
    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b](A)
There is no fear(B) of God
    before their eyes.(C)

In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.(D)
The words of their mouths(E) are wicked and deceitful;(F)
    they fail to act wisely(G) or do good.(H)
Even on their beds they plot evil;(I)
    they commit themselves to a sinful course(J)
    and do not reject what is wrong.(K)

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness(L) to the skies.(M)
Your righteousness(N) is like the highest mountains,(O)
    your justice like the great deep.(P)
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.(Q)
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!(R)
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(S)
They feast on the abundance of your house;(T)
    you give them drink from your river(U) of delights.(V)
For with you is the fountain of life;(W)
    in your light(X) we see light.

10 Continue your love(Y) to those who know you,(Z)
    your righteousness to the upright in heart.(AA)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
    nor the hand of the wicked(AB) drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
    thrown down, not able to rise!(AC)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 36:1 In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13.
  2. Psalm 36:1 Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts.

A Collection of Solomon’s Proverbs

10 Solomon’s proverbs:(A)

A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.(B)

Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone,
but righteousness rescues from death.(C)

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Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs(A) of Solomon:(B)

A wise son brings joy to his father,(C)
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,(D)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(E)

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