Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

To the Overcomer: A Psalm for the sons of Korah.

¹ ¶ Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

² Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

³ My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart intelligence.

⁴ I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will declare my enigma upon the harp.

⁵ Why should I fear in the days of adversity when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

⁶ ¶ Those that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

⁷ none of them can by any means ransom his brother, nor give God an atonement for him;

⁸ (for the redemption of their soul is of great price, and they shall never pay it)

⁹ that he should still live for ever and not see corruption.

¹⁰ For he sees that all the wise men die, likewise the fool and the ignorant perish and leave their wealth to others.

¹¹ Their inward thought is that their houses are eternal and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

¹² Nevertheless man will not abide forever in honour; he is like the beasts that are cut off.

1 ¶ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

² Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

³ What profit does a man have of all his labour which he takes under the sun?

⁴ ¶ One generation passes away, and another generation comes, but the earth abides for ever.

⁵ The sun arises, and the sun goes down, and with desire returns to his place from which he arises again.

⁶ The wind goes toward the south and turns about unto the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to its circuits.

⁷ All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, there they return again.

⁸ All things are full of labour; more than man can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing.

⁹ ¶ The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.

¹⁰ Is there any thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? it has been already of old time which was before us.

¹¹ There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

¹⁷ ¶ And as he was leaving to continue his way, there came one running, who kneeled before him and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

¹⁸ And Jesus said unto him, Why dost thou call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

¹⁹ Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

²⁰ And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these I have observed from my youth.

²¹ Then Jesus beholding him loved him and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, {Gr. stauros – stake} and follow me taking up thy stake (if thy desire is to be perfect).

²² But he, saddened by this word, went away grieved, for he had great possessions.