Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

A Fool Trusts in Riches

49 Hear this, all people. Listen, all who live in the world, ² both small and great, rich and poor together. ³ My mouth will speak wisdom. And the thoughts of my heart will be understanding. ⁴ I will turn my ear to a wise saying. With a harp, I will tell what is hard to understand.

⁵ Why should I be afraid in the days of trouble, when the sin of those who hate me is all around me? ⁶ They trust in their riches, and are proud of all they have. ⁷ No man can save his brother. No man can pay God enough to save him. ⁸ The cost is much for his soul to be saved. Man should stop trying ⁹ to live forever and not see the grave.

¹⁰ For he sees that even wise men die. The fool and those who cannot think well die alike. And they leave their riches to others. ¹¹ They think in their hearts that their houses will last forever, and that the places where they live will last for all their children to follow. They have used their own names to name their lands. ¹² But man with all his honor does not last. He is like the animals that die.

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, think about what is in front of you. ² Put a knife to your neck if you are a man who is given to much eating. ³ Do not desire his special foods, for they are put there for no good reason.

⁴ Do not work hard to be rich. Stop trying to get things for yourself. ⁵ When you set your eyes upon it, it is gone. For sure, riches make themselves wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

⁶ Do not eat the bread of a man who thinks only about himself. Do not have a desire for his fine food. ⁷ For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you. ⁸ You will spit up the piece of food you have eaten, and waste your good words.

⁹ Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will hate the wisdom of your words.

¹⁰ Do not take away the old land-mark, or go into the fields of those without a father. ¹¹ For the One Who saves them is strong. He will stand by them and give them help against you.

³³ God’s riches are so great! The things He knows and His wisdom are so deep! No one can understand His thoughts. No one can understand His ways. ³⁴ The Holy Writings say, “Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to tell Him what to do?” ^{(A) 35} “Who has given first to God, that God should pay him back?” ^{(B) 36} Everything comes from Him. His power keeps all things together. All things are made for Him. May He be honored forever. Let it be so.