Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

92 A song to sing on the Lord’s Day.^[a]

It is good to say thank you to the Lord, to sing praises to the God who is above all gods.

² Every morning tell him, “Thank you for your kindness,” and every evening rejoice in all his faithfulness. ³ Sing his praises, accompanied by music from the harp and lute and lyre. ⁴ You have done so much for me, O Lord. No wonder I am glad! I sing for joy.

¹² But the godly shall flourish like palm trees and grow tall as the cedars of Lebanon. ¹³ For they are transplanted into the Lord’s own garden and are under his personal care. ¹⁴ Even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green. ¹⁵ This honors the Lord and exhibits his faithful care. He is my shelter. There is nothing but goodness in him!

13 A wise youth accepts his father’s rebuke; a young mocker doesn’t.

² The good man wins his case by careful argument; the evil-minded only wants to fight.

³ Self-control means controlling the tongue! A quick retort can ruin everything.

⁴ Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering.

⁵ A good man hates lies; wicked men lie constantly^[a] and come to shame.

⁶ A man’s goodness helps him all through life, while evil men are being destroyed by their wickedness.

⁷ Some rich people are poor, and some poor people have great wealth!

⁸ Being kidnapped and held for ransom never worries the poor man!

⁹ The good man’s life is full of light. The sinner’s road is dark and gloomy.

¹⁰ Pride leads to arguments; be humble, take advice, and become wise.

¹¹ Wealth from gambling quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy.^[b]

¹² When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. His sin spread death throughout all the world, so everything began to grow old and die,^[a] for all sinned. ¹³ We know that it was Adam’s sin that caused this^[b] because although, of course, people were sinning from the time of Adam until Moses, God did not in those days judge them guilty of death for breaking his laws—because he had not yet given his laws to them nor told them what he wanted them to do. ¹⁴ So when their bodies died it was not for their own sins^[c] since they themselves had never disobeyed God’s special law against eating the forbidden fruit, as Adam had.

What a contrast between Adam and Christ who was yet to come! ¹⁵ And what a difference between man’s sin and God’s forgiveness!

For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this one man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God’s mercy. ¹⁶ Adam’s one sin brought the penalty of death to many, while Christ freely takes away many sins and gives glorious life instead. ¹⁷ The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to be king over all, but all who will take God’s gift of forgiveness and acquittal are kings of life^[d] because of this one man, Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ Yes, Adam’s sin brought punishment to all, but Christ’s righteousness makes men right with God, so that they can live. ¹⁹ Adam caused many to be sinners because he disobeyed God, and Christ caused many to be made acceptable to God because he obeyed.

²⁰ The Ten Commandments were given so that all could see the extent of their failure to obey God’s laws. But the more we see our sinfulness, the more we see God’s abounding grace forgiving us. ²¹ Before, sin ruled over all men and brought them to death, but now God’s kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

6 Well then, shall we keep on sinning so that God can keep on showing us more and more kindness and forgiveness?

^2-3 Of course not! Should we keep on sinning when we don’t have to? For sin’s power over us was broken when we became Christians and were baptized to become a part of Jesus Christ; through his death the power of your sinful nature was shattered.