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.
Wisdom Is Better Than Being Foolish
13 I have also seen this as wisdom under the sun, and it made me think. 14 There was a small city with few men in it, and a great king came to it. His army gathered around it and built a large wall to help them in battle against it. 15 But a poor wise man was found in the city, and he brought the city out of its trouble by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is hated and his words are not carried out. 17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the loud words of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than objects used in war, but one sinner destroys much good.
The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His shining-greatness, He will sit down on His throne of greatness. All the angels will be with Him. 32 All the nations of the earth will be gathered before Him. He will divide them from each other as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on His right side, but the goats He will put on His left side.
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right side, ‘Come, you who have been called by My Father. Come into the holy nation that has been made ready for you before the world was made. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave Me water to drink. I was a stranger and you gave Me a room. 36 I had no clothes and you gave Me clothes to wear. I was sick and you cared for Me. I was in prison and you came to see Me.’
37 “Then those that are right with God will say, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You? When did we see You thirsty and give You a drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and give You a room? When did we see You had no clothes and we gave You clothes? 39 And when did we see You sick or in prison and we came to You?’ 40 Then the King will say, ‘For sure, I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of My brothers, you have done it to Me.’
41 “Then the King will say to those on His left side, ‘Go away from Me! You are guilty! Go into the fire that lasts forever. It has been made ready for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry but you did not give Me food to eat. I was thirsty but you did not give Me water to drink. 43 I was a stranger but you did not give Me a room. I had no clothes but you did not give Me clothes. I was sick and in prison but you did not come to see Me.’
44 “Then they will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger? When did we see You without clothes or sick or in prison and did not care for You?’ 45 Then He will say to them, ‘For sure, I tell you, because you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 These will go to the place where they will be punished forever. But those right with God will have life that lasts forever.”
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