Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
The Lord Helps the Poor
113 Praise the Lord! Praise Him, O you who serve the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. 2 Let the name of the Lord be honored, now and forever. 3 The name of the Lord is to be praised from the time the sun rises to when it sets. 4 The Lord is high above all nations. His shining-greatness is above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God? He sits on His throne on high. 6 He looks down upon the heavens and the earth. 7 He raises the poor from the dust. He lifts those in need from the ashes. 8 He makes them sit with rulers, with the rulers of His people. 9 He gives a home to the woman who could not give birth and makes her the mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Different Laws
23 “Do not tell a lie about someone else. Do not join with the sinful to say something that will hurt someone. 2 Do not follow many people in doing wrong. When telling what you know in a trial, do not agree with many people by saying what is not true. 3 And do not show favor to a poor man when he has a problem.
4 “If you meet a bull or donkey that belongs to a man who hates you, be sure to return the animal to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you falling under its load, do not leave the problem to him. Help him to free the animal. 6 Do not keep from doing what is right and fair in trying to help a poor brother when he has a problem. 7 Do not lie against someone. And do not kill those who are right and good or those who are not guilty. For I will not free the guilty. 8 Do not take pay in secret for wrong-doing. For such pay blinds the one who sees well and destroys the words of a good man. 9 Do not make it hard for a stranger because you know how a stranger feels. You were strangers in the land of Egypt.
3 Do the Jews have anything that those who are not Jews do not have? What good does it do to go through the religious act of becoming a Jew? 2 Yes, the Jews have much more in every way. First of all, God gave the Jews His Law. 3 If some of them were not faithful, does it mean that God will not be faithful? 4 No, not at all! God is always true even if every man lies. The Holy Writings say, “Speak the truth and you will not be proven guilty.” (A)
5 If our sins show how right God is, what can we say? Is it wrong for God to punish us for it? (I am speaking as men do.) 6 No, not at all! If it were wrong for God to punish us, how could He judge the world? 7 If my lies honor God by showing how true He is, why am I still being judged as a sinner? 8 Why not say, “Let us sin that good will come from it.” (Some people have said I talk like this!) They will be punished as they should be.
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