Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹¹ For the good of Your name, O Lord, forgive my sin, even as big as it is.

¹² Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will teach him in the way he should choose. ¹³ His soul will live a rich life. And his children will be given the land. ¹⁴ The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him. And He will make them know His agreement. ¹⁵ My eyes are always on the Lord. For He will take my feet out of the net.

¹⁶ Turn to me and show me Your loving-kindness. For I am alone and in trouble. ¹⁷ The troubles of my heart have grown. Bring me out of my suffering. ¹⁸ Look upon my troubles and my pain, and forgive all my sins. ¹⁹ Look upon those who hate me, for they are many. And how very much they hate me! ²⁰ Keep me safe, Lord, and set me free. Do not let me be put to shame for I put my trust in You.

Job Keeps On Talking

24 “Why are times for judging not set up by the All-powerful? And why do those who know Him not see these days? ² Some take away the land-marks and take fields and animals. ³ They drive away the donkeys that belong to those who have no parents. They take the bull that belongs to a woman whose husband has died, as a promise that she will pay what she owes. ⁴ They push poor people off the road. All the poor of the land are made to hide themselves. ⁵ See, they go out like wild donkeys in the desert to look for food for their children. ⁶ They gather food in the fields, and gather what they can that is left from the grape-fields owned by the sinful. ⁷ They lie all night without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. ⁸ They are wet with the mountain rains and stay close to the rocks for cover.

The Rich and the Poor

2 My Christian brothers, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of shining-greatness. Since your trust is in Him, do not look on one person as more important than another. ² What if a man comes into your church wearing a gold ring and good clothes? And at the same time a poor man comes wearing old clothes. ³ What if you show respect to the man in good clothes and say, “Come and sit in this good place”? But if you say to the poor man, “Stand up over there,” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ are you not thinking that one is more important than the other? This kind of thinking is sinful. ⁵ Listen, my dear Christian brothers, God has chosen those who are poor in the things of this world to be rich in faith. The holy nation of heaven is theirs. That is what God promised to those who love Him. ⁶ You have not shown respect to the poor man. Is it not the rich men who make it hard for you and take you to court? ⁷ They speak against the name of Christ. And it was Christ Who called you.