Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

³ Do not put your trust in the rulers of this world—kings and princes.
    Do not expect any rescue from mortal men.
⁴ As soon as their breath leaves them, they return to the earth;
    on that day, all of them perish—their dreams, their plans, and their memories.

⁵ Blessed are those whose help comes from the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is centered in the Eternal their God—
⁶ Who created the heavens, the earth,
    the seas, and all that lives within them;
Who stays true and remains faithful forever;
⁷ Who works justice for those who are pressed down by the world,
    providing food for those who are hungry.

The Eternal frees those who are imprisoned;
⁸ He makes the blind see.
    He lifts up those whose backs are bent in labor;
    He cherishes those who do what is right.
⁹ The Eternal looks after those who journey in a land not their own;
    He takes care of the orphan and the widow,
    but He frustrates the wicked along their way.

¹⁰ The Eternal will reign today, tomorrow, and forever.
    People of Zion, your God will rule forever over all generations.
Praise the Eternal!

33 Oh, how bad it will be for the one who ruins and is not yet ruined,
    who lies, cheats, and steals without experiencing the same in return.
It will come back to you. When you’ve exhausted your destroying,
    you will find yourself destroyed,
And your treachery will come back to haunt you at the treacherous hands of others.

² We’ve been waiting for you, Eternal One, to come and shower us with grace.
    In the morning, be our strength; in times of trouble, be what saves us.
³ People flee when they hear the crashing thunder of Your voice;
    nations scatter when You arise.
⁴ The spoil of the nations is gathered—swiftly and decisively—
    as a hungry locust gathers, as a swarm of locusts rushes to strip the land.
⁵ The Eternal One is high above it all; for that is where He lives;
    He will fill Zion (that heaven on earth) with justice and all manner of doing right.

⁶ God will be what holds things together,
    fast and firm during these times.
He will be boundless salvation,
    the roots and fruits of wisdom and knowledge.
Zion’s most precious possession
    is the people’s awe-filled respect of the Eternal.

⁷ Look, their stoutest men run screaming in the streets;
    their messengers of peace have broken down in bitter tears.
⁸ The roads are empty; no one ventures out.
    The Assyrians have broken their treaty,
Disavowing the promises they made before witnesses.
    They show no respect for anyone.
⁹ The land itself, like a new widow, grieves and wastes away.
    Lush Lebanon decays, once-rose-covered Sharon looks like a desert,
And the tree-topped mountains of Bashan and Carmel
    are completely denuded.