Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

³ You can't depend on anyone,
    not even a great leader.
⁴ Once they die and are buried,
that will be the end
    of all their plans.

⁵ The Lord God of Jacob blesses
everyone who trusts him
    and depends on him.
^6 (A) God made heaven and earth;
he created the sea
    and everything else.
God always keeps his word.
⁷ He gives justice to the poor
    and food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free
⁸     and heals blind eyes.
He gives a helping hand
    to everyone who falls.
The Lord loves good people
⁹     and looks after strangers.
He defends the rights
of orphans and widows,
    but destroys the wicked.

¹⁰ The Lord God of Zion
will rule forever!
    Shout praises to the Lord!

⁴ Respect and serve the Lord!
Your reward will be wealth,
    a long life, and honor.
⁵ Crooks walk down a road
full of thorny traps.
    Stay away from there!
^6 (A) Teach your children
    right from wrong,
and when they are grown
    they will still do right.
⁷ The poor are ruled by the rich,
and those who borrow
    are slaves of moneylenders.
⁸ Troublemakers get in trouble,
and their terrible anger
    will get them nowhere.

⁹ The Lord blesses everyone
who freely gives food
    to the poor.
¹⁰ Arguments and fights
    will come to an end,
if you chase away those
    who insult others.
¹¹ The king is the friend of all
who are sincere
    and speak with kindness.

¹² The Lord watches over everyone
    who shows good sense,
but he frustrates the plans
    of deceitful liars.
¹³ Don't be so lazy that you say,
“If I go to work,
    a lion will eat me!”
¹⁴ The words of a bad woman
    are like a deep pit;
if you make the Lord angry,
    you will fall right in.
¹⁵ All children are foolish,
but firm correction
    will make them change.
¹⁶ Cheat the poor to make profit
or give gifts to the rich—
    either way you lose.