Psalm 128

New International Version

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

¹Blessed are all who fear the Lord,^(A)
    who walk in obedience to him.^(B)
²You will eat the fruit of your labor;^(C)
    blessings and prosperity^(D) will be yours.
³Your wife will be like a fruitful vine^(E)
    within your house;
your children^(F) will be like olive shoots^(G)
    around your table.
⁴Yes, this will be the blessing^(H)
    for the man who fears the Lord.^(I)

⁵May the Lord bless you from Zion;^(J)
    may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem^(K)
    all the days of your life.
⁶May you live to see your children’s children—^(L)
    peace be on Israel.^(M)

Ecclesiastes 4:9-16

New International Version

⁹Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹²Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Advancement Is Meaningless

¹³Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. ¹⁴The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. ¹⁵I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. ¹⁶There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Read full chapter

James 5:1-6

New International Version

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(A) you rich people,^(B) weep and wail^(C) because of the misery that is coming on you. ²Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.^(D) ³Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.^(E) ⁴Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^(F) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^(G) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^(H) ⁵You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^(I) in the day of slaughter.^[a]^(J) ⁶You have condemned and murdered^(K) the innocent one,^(L) who was not opposing you.