Psalm 25:11-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.(A)
12 Who are they who fear the Lord?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.(B)
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.(C)
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.(D)
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.(E)
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me[a] out of my distress.(F)
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.(G)
19 Consider how many are my foes
and with what violent hatred they hate me.(H)
20 O guard my life and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
Footnotes
- 25.17 Or The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me
Job 24:1-8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Job Complains of Violence on the Earth
24 “Why are times not kept by the Almighty,[a]
and why do those who know him never see his days?(A)
2 The wicked[b] remove landmarks;
they seize flocks and pasture them.(B)
3 They drive away the donkey of the orphan;
they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.(C)
4 They thrust the needy off the road;
the poor of the earth all hide themselves.(D)
5 Like wild asses in the desert
they go out to their toil,
scavenging in the wasteland
food for their young.(E)
6 They reap in a field not their own,
and they glean in the vineyard of the wicked.
7 They lie all night naked, without clothing,
and have no covering in the cold.(F)
8 They are wet with the rain of the mountains
and cling to the rock for want of shelter.(G)
James 2:1-7
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Warning against Partiality
2 My brothers and sisters, do not claim the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory while showing partiality.(A) 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here in a good place, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit by my footstool,”(B) 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?(C) 6 But you have dishonored the poor person. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into the courts?(D) 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
Read full chapterNew Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.