Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
A Prayer Against Liars
For the director of music. Upon the sheminith. A psalm of David.
12 Save me, Lord, because the good people are all gone;
no true believers are left on earth.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbors;
they say one thing and mean another.
3 The Lord will stop those flattering lips
and cut off those bragging tongues.
4 They say, “Our tongues will help us win.
We can say what we wish; no one is our master.”
5 But the Lord says,
“I will now rise up,
because the poor are being hurt.
Because of the moans of the helpless,
I will give them the help they want.”
6 The Lord’s words are pure,
like silver purified by fire,
like silver purified seven times over.
7 Lord, you will keep us safe;
you will always protect us from such people.
8 But the wicked are all around us;
everyone loves what is wrong.
12 Some people think they are doing right,
but in the end it leads to death.
13 Someone who is laughing may be sad inside,
and joy may end in sadness.
14 Evil people will be paid back for their evil ways,
and good people will be rewarded for their good ones.
15 Fools will believe anything,
but the wise think about what they do.
16 Wise people are careful and stay out of trouble,
but fools are careless and quick to act.
17 Someone with a quick temper does foolish things,
but someone with understanding remains calm.
18 Fools are rewarded with nothing but more foolishness,
but the wise are rewarded with knowledge.
19 Evil people will bow down to those who are good;
the wicked will bow down at the door of those who do right.
20 The poor are rejected, even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
21 It is a sin to hate your neighbor,
but being kind to the needy brings happiness.
22 Those who make evil plans will be ruined,
but those who plan to do good will be loved and trusted.
23 Those who work hard make a profit,
but those who only talk will be poor.
24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth,
but fools only get more foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is a traitor.
26 Those who respect the Lord will have security,
and their children will be protected.
27 Respect for the Lord gives life.
It is like a fountain that can save people from death.
28 A king is honored when he has many people to rule,
but a prince is ruined if he has none.
29 Patient people have great understanding,
but people with quick tempers show their foolishness.
30 Peace of mind means a healthy body,
but jealousy will rot your bones.
31 Whoever mistreats the poor insults their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Peter and John at the Council
4 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, priests, the captain of the soldiers that guarded the Temple, and Sadducees came up to them. 2 They were upset because the two apostles were teaching the people and were preaching that people will rise from the dead through the power of Jesus. 3 The older leaders grabbed Peter and John and put them in jail. Since it was already night, they kept them in jail until the next day. 4 But many of those who had heard Peter and John preach believed the things they said. There were now about five thousand in the group of believers.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there, as well as everyone from the high priest’s family. 7 They made Peter and John stand before them and then asked them, “By what power or authority did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and you elders, 9 are you questioning us about a good thing that was done to a crippled man? Are you asking us who made him well? 10 We want all of you and all the people to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You crucified him, but God raised him from the dead. This man was crippled, but he is now well and able to stand here before you because of the power of Jesus. 11 Jesus is
‘the stone[a] that you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’ Psalm 118:22
12 Jesus is the only One who can save people. No one else in the world is able to save us.”
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.