Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Good and the Sinful

73 For sure God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. ² But as for me, my feet came close to falling. My steps had almost tripped. ³ For I was jealous of the proud when I saw that all was going well with the sinful. ⁴ For they suffer no pain in their death, and their body is fat. ⁵ They do not have the troubles of other men or suffer like other men. ⁶ So they wear pride around their neck. Fighting covers them like a coat. ⁷ They are so fat that their eyes are pushed out. The crazy thoughts of their hearts run wild. ⁸ They laugh at the truth, and speak sinful things about making it hard for others. They speak from a high place. ⁹ They say bad things against heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth.

¹⁰ And so his people return to this place and drink water from a full cup. ¹¹ They say, “How does God know? Is there much learning with the Most High?”

¹² See, this is what the sinful are like. They always have it easy and their riches grow. ¹³ For no good reason I have kept my heart pure and have not sinned. ¹⁴ For I have suffered all day long. I have been punished every morning.

¹⁵ I would not have been true to Your children if I had spoken this way. ¹⁶ It was too hard for me when I tried to understand this, ¹⁷ until I went into the holy place of God. Then I understood their end. ¹⁸ For sure, You set the sinful in places where there is danger at every step. You throw them down to be destroyed. ¹⁹ How they are destroyed right away! They come to an end with much fear. ²⁰ Like a dream when one wakes up, so You will hate what they look like when You rise up, O Lord.

²¹ My heart was troubled and I was hurt inside. ²² I was without reason and did not know better. I was like an animal before You. ²³ Yet I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand. ²⁴ You will lead me by telling me what I should do. And after this, You will bring me into shining-greatness.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You? I want nothing more on earth, but You. ²⁶ My body and my heart may grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart and all I need forever. ²⁷ For, see, those who are far from You will be lost from You forever. You have destroyed all those who are not faithful to You. ²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my safe place. So I may tell of all the things You have done.

Special Dream about Locusts

7 This is what the Lord God showed me: He was making a gathering of locusts when the spring grain began to grow. The spring grain was after the king’s share had been cut. ² When they had finished eating the grass I said, “Lord God, forgive! O that Jacob may stay alive for he is so small!” ³ So the Lord changed His mind about this. “It will not be,” said the Lord.

Special Dream about Fire

⁴ This is what the Lord God showed me: The Lord God was calling for a punishment by fire. It dried up the deep waters and began to destroy the farm land. ⁵ Then I said, “Lord God, I beg You to stop! How can Jacob stay alive, for he is so small?” ⁶ So the Lord changed His mind about this. “This also will not be,” said the Lord God.

The Good Fight of Faith

¹⁸ Timothy, my son, here is my word to you. Fight well for the Lord! God’s preachers told us you would. ¹⁹ Keep a strong hold on your faith in Christ. May your heart always say you are right. Some people have not listened to what their hearts say. They have done what they knew was wrong. Because of this, their faith in Christ was wrecked. ²⁰ This happened to Hymenaeus and Alexander. I gave them over to Satan to teach them not to speak against God.