◀ All Reading Plans / Book of Common Prayer / Ps. [120] 121 122 123; Ps. 124 125 126 [127]; Ruth 1:15–22; 2 Cor. 1:12–22; Matt. 5:13–20 (New American Bible (Revised Edition))

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Book of Common Prayer

Daily Old and New Testament readings based on the Book of Common Prayer.

Duration: 861 days

Psalm 120-127

Psalm 120^[a]

Prayer of a Returned Exile

¹A song of ascents.^[b]

The Lord answered me
when I called in my distress:^(A)
²Lord, deliver my soul from lying lips,
from a treacherous tongue.^(B)

³What will he inflict on you,
    O treacherous tongue,
    and what more besides?^[c]
⁴A warrior’s arrows
    sharpened with coals of brush wood!^[d]^(C)

⁵^[e]Alas, I am a foreigner in Meshech,
    I live among the tents of Kedar!
⁶Too long do I live
    among those who hate peace.
⁷When I speak of peace,
    they are for war.^(D)

Psalm 121^[f]

The Lord My Guardian

¹A song of ascents.

I raise my eyes toward the mountains.^[g]
From whence shall come my help?^(E)
²My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.^(F)

³He will not allow your foot to slip;^(G)
    or your guardian to sleep.
⁴Behold, the guardian of Israel
    never slumbers nor sleeps.
⁵^[h]The Lord is your guardian;
    the Lord is your shade
    at your right hand.^(H)
⁶By day the sun will not strike you,
    nor the moon by night.^(I)
⁷The Lord will guard you from all evil;
    he will guard your soul.^(J)
⁸The Lord will guard your coming and going
    both now and forever.^(K)

Psalm 122^[i]

A Pilgrim’s Prayer for Jerusalem

¹A song of ascents. Of David.

I

I rejoiced when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”^(L)
²And now our feet are standing
    within your gates, Jerusalem.
³Jerusalem, built as a city,
    walled round about.^[j]^(M)
⁴There the tribes go up,
    the tribes of the Lord,
As it was decreed for Israel,
    to give thanks to the name of the Lord.^(N)
⁵There are the thrones of justice,
    the thrones of the house of David.

II

⁶For the peace of Jerusalem pray:
    “May those who love you prosper!
⁷May peace be within your ramparts,
    prosperity within your towers.”^(O)
⁸For the sake of my brothers and friends I say,
    “Peace be with you.”^(P)
⁹For the sake of the house of the Lord, our God,
    I pray for your good.

Psalm 123^[k]

Reliance on the Lord

¹A song of ascents.

To you I raise my eyes,
    to you enthroned in heaven.^(Q)
²Yes, like the eyes of servants
    on the hand of their masters,
Like the eyes of a maid
    on the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes are on the Lord our God,
    till we are shown favor.
³Show us favor, Lord, show us favor,
    for we have our fill of contempt.^(R)
⁴Our souls are more than sated
    with mockery from the insolent,
    with contempt from the arrogant.

Psalm 124^[l]

God, the Rescuer of the People

¹A song of ascents. Of David.

Had not the Lord been with us,
    let Israel say,^(S)
²Had not the Lord been with us,
    when people rose against us,
³Then they would have swallowed us alive,^(T)
    for their fury blazed against us.
⁴Then the waters would have engulfed us,
    the torrent overwhelmed us;^(U)
⁵    then seething water would have drowned us.
⁶Blessed is the Lord, who did not leave us
    to be torn by their teeth.
⁷We escaped with our lives like a bird
    from the fowler’s snare;
    the snare was broken,
    and we escaped.
⁸^[m]Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    the maker of heaven and earth.^(V)

Psalm 125^[n]

Israel’s Protector

¹A song of ascents.

Those trusting in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
    unshakable, forever enduring.^(W)
²As mountains surround Jerusalem,
    the Lord surrounds his people
    both now and forever.^(X)

³The scepter of the wicked will not prevail
in the land allotted to the just,^[o]
Lest the just themselves
turn their hands to evil.

⁴Do good, Lord, to the good,
to those who are upright of heart.^(Y)
⁵But those who turn aside to crooked ways
may the Lord send down with the evildoers.^(Z)
Peace upon Israel!^(AA)

Psalm 126^[p]

The Reversal of Zion’s Fortunes

¹A song of ascents.

I

When the Lord restored the captives of Zion,^(AB)
    we thought we were dreaming.
²Then our mouths were filled with laughter;
    our tongues sang for joy.^(AC)
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord had done great things for them.”
³The Lord has done great things for us;
    Oh, how happy we were!
⁴Restore our captives, Lord,
    like the dry stream beds of the Negeb.^[q]

II

⁵Those who sow in tears
    will reap with cries of joy.^(AD)
⁶Those who go forth weeping,
    carrying sacks of seed,
Will return with cries of joy,
    carrying their bundled sheaves.

Psalm 127^[r]

The Need of God’s Blessing

¹A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

I

Unless the Lord build the house,
    they labor in vain who build.
Unless the Lord guard the city,
    in vain does the guard keep watch.
²It is vain for you to rise early
    and put off your rest at night,
To eat bread earned by hard toil—
    all this God gives to his beloved in sleep.^(AE)

II

³Certainly sons are a gift from the Lord,
    the fruit of the womb, a reward.^(AF)
⁴Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
    are the sons born in one’s youth.
⁵Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them.
He will never be shamed
    for he will destroy his foes at the gate.^[s]

Footnotes

Psalm 120 A thanksgiving, reporting divine rescue (Ps 120:1) yet with fervent prayer for further protection against lying attackers (Ps 120:2–4). The psalmist is acutely conscious of living away from God’s own land where divine peace prevails (Ps 120:5–7).
120:1 A song of ascents: Ps 120–134 all begin with this superscription. Most probably these fifteen Psalms once formed a collection of Psalms sung when pilgrims went to Jerusalem, since one “ascended” to Jerusalem (1 Kgs 12:28; Ps 24:3; 122:4; Lk 2:42) or to the house of God or to an altar (1 Kgs 12:33; 2 Kgs 23:2; Ps 24:3). Less probable is the explanation that these Psalms were sung by the exiles when they “ascended” to Jerusalem from Babylonia (cf. Ezr 7:9). The idea, found in the Mishnah, that the fifteen steps on which the Levites sang corresponded to these fifteen Psalms (Middot 2:5) must underlie the Vulgate translation canticum graduum, “song of the steps” or “gradual song.”
120:3 More besides: a common curse formula in Hebrew was “May the Lord do such and such evils to you [the evils being specified], and add still more to them,” cf. 1 Sm 3:17; 14:44; 25:22. Here the psalmist is at a loss for a suitable malediction.
120:4 Coals of brush wood: coals made from the stalk of the broom plant burn with intense heat. The psalmist thinks of lighted coals cast at his enemies.
120:5 Meshech was in the far north (Gn 10:2) and Kedar was a tribe of the north Arabian desert (Gn 25:13). The psalmist may be thinking generally of all aliens living among inhospitable peoples.
Psalm 121 A blessing given to someone embarking on a dangerous journey whether a soldier going on a campaign or a pilgrim returning home from the Temple. People look anxiously at the wooded hills. Will God protect them on their journey (Ps 121:1)? The speaker declares that God is not confined to a place or a time (Ps 121:2), that every step is guarded (Ps 121:3–4); night and day (Ps 121:5–6) God watches over their every movement (Ps 121:7–8).
121:1 The mountains: possibly Mount Zion, the site of the Temple and hence of safety, but more probably mountains as a place of dangers, causing anxiety to the psalmist.
121:5–6 The image of shade, a symbol of protection, is apt: God as shade protects from the harmful effects that ancients believed were caused by the sun and moon.
Psalm 122 A song of Zion, sung by pilgrims obeying the law to visit Jerusalem three times on a journey. The singer anticipates joining the procession into the city (Ps 122:1–3). Jerusalem is a place of encounter, where the people praise God (Ps 122:4) and hear the divine justice mediated by the king (Ps 122:5). The very buildings bespeak God’s power (cf. Ps 48:13–15). May the grace of this place transform the people’s lives (Ps 122:6–9)!
122:3 Walled round about: lit., “which is joined to it,” probably referring both to the density of the buildings and to the dense population.
Psalm 123 A lament that begins as a prayer of an individual (Ps 123:1), who expresses by a touching comparison exemplary confidence in God (Ps 123:2). The Psalm ends in prayer that God relieve the people’s humiliation at the hands of the arrogant (Ps 123:3–4).
Psalm 124 A thanksgiving which teaches that Israel’s very existence is owed to God who rescues them. In the first part Israel’s enemies are compared to the mythic sea dragon (Ps 124:2b–3a; cf. Jer 51:34) and Flood (Ps 124:3b–5; cf. Is 51:9–10). The Psalm heightens the malice of human enemies by linking them to the primordial enemies of God’s creation. Israel is a bird freed from the trapper’s snare (Ps 124:6–8)—freed originally from Pharaoh and now from the current danger.
124:8 Our help is in the name: for the idiom, see Ex 18:4.
Psalm 125 In response to exilic anxieties about the ancient promises of restoration, the Psalm expresses confidence that God will surround the people as the mountains surround Zion (Ps 125:1–2). The just will not be contaminated by the wicked (Ps 125:3). May God judge between the two groups (Ps 125:4–5).
125:3 The land allotted to the just: lit., “the lot of the righteous.” The promised land was divided among the tribes of Israel by lot (Nm 26:55; Jos 18). The righteous are the members of the people who are obedient to God. If the domination of the wicked were to continue in the land, even the just would be infected by their evil attitudes.
Psalm 126 A lament probably sung shortly after Israel’s return from exile. The people rejoice that they are in Zion (Ps 126:1–3) but mere presence in the holy city is not enough; they must pray for the prosperity and the fertility of the land (Ps 126:4). The last verses are probably an oracle of promise: the painful work of sowing will be crowned with life (Ps 126:5–6).
126:4 Like the dry stream beds of the Negeb: the psalmist prays for rain in such abundance that the dry riverbeds will run.
Psalm 127 The Psalm puts together two proverbs (Ps 127:1–2, 3–5) on God establishing “houses” or families. The prosperity of human groups is not the work of human beings but the gift of God.
127:5 At the gate: the reference is not to enemies besieging the walls of a city but to adversaries in litigation. Law courts functioned in the open area near the main city gate. The more adult sons a man had, the more forceful he would appear in disputes, cf. Prv 31:23.

Ruth 1:15-22

¹⁵“See now,” she said, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!” ¹⁶^[a]But Ruth said, “Do not press me to go back and abandon you!

Wherever you go I will go,
    wherever you lodge I will lodge.
Your people shall be my people
    and your God, my God.
¹⁷Where you die I will die,
    and there be buried.

May the Lord do thus to me, and more, if even death separates me from you!” ¹⁸Naomi then ceased to urge her, for she saw she was determined to go with her.

The Return to Bethlehem. ¹⁹So they went on together until they reached Bethlehem. On their arrival there, the whole town was excited about them, and the women asked: “Can this be Naomi?” ²⁰^(A)But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi [‘Sweet’]. Call me Mara [‘Bitter’], for the Almighty has made my life very bitter. ²¹^[b]^(B)I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why should you call me ‘Sweet,’ since the Lord has brought me to trial, and the Almighty has pronounced evil sentence on me.” ²²Thus it was that Naomi came back with her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.^[c]

2 Corinthians 1:12-22

II. The Crisis Between Paul and the Corinthians

A. Past Relationships^[a]

Paul’s Sincerity and Constancy. ¹²^[b]For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with the simplicity and sincerity of God, [and] not by human wisdom but by the grace of God. ¹³For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand, and I hope that you will understand completely, ¹⁴as you have come to understand us partially, that we are your boast as you also are ours, on the day of [our] Lord Jesus.^(A)

¹⁵With this confidence I formerly intended to come^[c] to you so that you might receive a double favor, ¹⁶namely, to go by way of you to Macedonia, and then to come to you again on my return from Macedonia, and have you send me on my way to Judea.^(B) ¹⁷So when I intended this, did I act lightly?^[d] Or do I make my plans according to human considerations, so that with me it is “yes, yes” and “no, no”?^(C) ¹⁸As God is faithful,^[e] our word to you is not “yes” and “no.” ¹⁹For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him.^(D) ²⁰For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.^(E) ²¹^[f]But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God;^(F) ²²he has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.^(G)

Footnotes

1:12–2:13 The autobiographical remarks about the crisis in Asia Minor lead into consideration of a crisis that has arisen between Paul and the Corinthians. Paul will return to this question, after a long digression, in 2 Cor 7:5–16. Both of these sections deal with travel plans Paul had made, changes in the plans, alternative measures adopted, a breach that opened between him and the community, and finally a reconciliation between them.
1:12–14 Since Paul’s own conduct will be under discussion here, he prefaces the section with a statement about his habitual behavior and attitude toward the community. He protests his openness, single-mindedness, and conformity to God’s grace; he hopes that his relationship with them will be marked by mutual understanding and pride, which will constantly increase until it reaches its climax at the judgment. Two references to boasting frame this paragraph (2 Cor 1:12, 14), the first appearances of a theme that will be important in the letter, especially in 2 Cor 10–13; the term is used in a positive sense here (cf. note on 1 Cor 1:29–31).
1:15 I formerly intended to come: this plan reads like a revision of the one mentioned in 1 Cor 16:5. Not until 2 Cor 1:23–2:1 will Paul tell us something his original readers already knew, that he has canceled one or the other of these projected visits.
1:17 Did I act lightly?: the subsequent change of plans casts suspicion on the original intention, creating the impression that Paul is vacillating and inconsistent or that human considerations keep dictating shifts in his goals and projects (cf. the counterclaim of 2 Cor 1:12). “Yes, yes” and “no, no”: stating something and denying it in the same or the next breath; being of two minds at once, or from one moment to the next.
1:18–22 As God is faithful: unable to deny the change in plans, Paul nonetheless asserts the firmness of the original plan and claims a profound constancy in his life and work. He grounds his defense in God himself, who is firm and reliable; this quality can also be predicated in various ways of those who are associated with him. Christ, Paul, and the Corinthians all participate in analogous ways in the constancy of God. A number of the terms here, which appear related only conceptually in Greek or English, would be variations of the same root, ’mn, in a Semitic language, and thus naturally associated in a Semitic mind, such as Paul’s. These include the words yes (2 Cor 1:17–20), faithful (2 Cor 1:18), Amen (2 Cor 1:20), gives us security (2 Cor 1:21), faith, stand firm (2 Cor 1:24).
1:21–22 The commercial terms gives us security, seal, first installment are here used analogously to refer to the process of initiation into the Christian life, perhaps specifically to baptism. The passage is clearly trinitarian. The Spirit is the first installment or “down payment” of the full messianic benefits that God guarantees to Christians. Cf. Eph 1:13–14.

Matthew 5:13-20

¹³^(A)“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.^[a] ¹⁴You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.^(B) ¹⁵Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.^(C) ¹⁶Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.^(D)

Teaching About the Law. ¹⁷^[b]“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. ¹⁸Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.^(E) ¹⁹Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.^[c] ²⁰I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Teaching About Anger.^[d]

New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Book of Common Prayer

Psalm 120^[a]

Prayer of a Returned Exile

Psalm 121^[f]

The Lord My Guardian

Psalm 122^[i]

A Pilgrim’s Prayer for Jerusalem

I

II

Psalm 123^[k]

Reliance on the Lord

Psalm 124^[l]

God, the Rescuer of the People

Psalm 125^[n]

Israel’s Protector

Psalm 126^[p]

The Reversal of Zion’s Fortunes

I

II

Psalm 127^[r]

The Need of God’s Blessing

I

II

Footnotes

Cross references

Footnotes

Cross references

II. The Crisis Between Paul and the Corinthians

A. Past Relationships^[a]

Footnotes

Cross references

Footnotes

Cross references

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Book of Common Prayer

Psalm 120[a]

Prayer of a Returned Exile

Psalm 121[f]

The Lord My Guardian

Psalm 122[i]

A Pilgrim’s Prayer for Jerusalem

I

II

Psalm 123[k]

Reliance on the Lord

Psalm 124[l]

God, the Rescuer of the People

Psalm 125[n]

Israel’s Protector

Psalm 126[p]

The Reversal of Zion’s Fortunes

I

II

Psalm 127[r]

The Need of God’s Blessing

I

II

Footnotes

Cross references

Footnotes

Cross references

II. The Crisis Between Paul and the Corinthians

A. Past Relationships[a]

Footnotes

Cross references

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 120^[a]

Psalm 121^[f]

Psalm 122^[i]

Psalm 123^[k]

Psalm 124^[l]

Psalm 125^[n]

Psalm 126^[p]

Psalm 127^[r]

A. Past Relationships^[a]