Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Praise God Who Helps the Weak
146 Praise the Lord!
My whole being, praise the Lord.
2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.
3 Do not put your trust in princes
or other people, who cannot save you.
4 When people die, they are buried.
Then all of their plans come to an end.
5 Happy are those who are helped by the God of Jacob.
Their hope is in the Lord their God.
6 He made heaven and earth,
the sea and everything in it.
He remains loyal forever.
7 He does what is fair for those who have been wronged.
He gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.
8 The Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord lifts up people who are in trouble.
The Lord loves those who do right.
9 The Lord protects the foreigners.
He defends the orphans and widows,
but he blocks the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord will be King forever.
Jerusalem, your God is everlasting.
Praise the Lord!
11 Rich people may think they are wise,
but the poor with understanding will prove them wrong.
12 When good people triumph, there is great happiness,
but when the wicked get control, everybody hides.
13 If you hide your sins, you will not succeed.
If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.
14 Those who are always respectful will be happy,
but those who are stubborn will get into trouble.
15 A wicked ruler is as dangerous to poor people
as a roaring lion or a charging bear.
16 A ruler without wisdom will be cruel,
but the one who refuses to take dishonest money will rule a long time.
17 Don’t help those who are guilty of murder;
let them run until they die.
18 Innocent people will be kept safe,
but those who are dishonest will suddenly be ruined.
19 Those who work their land will have plenty of food,
but the ones who chase empty dreams instead will end up poor.
20 A truthful person will have many blessings,
but those eager to get rich will be punished.
21 It is not good for a judge to take sides,
but some will sin for only a piece of bread.
22 Selfish people are in a hurry to get rich
and do not realize they soon will be poor.
23 Those who correct others will later be liked
more than those who give false praise.
24 Whoever robs father or mother
and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is just like someone who destroys things.
25 A greedy person causes trouble,
but the one who trusts the Lord will succeed.
26 Those who trust in themselves are foolish,
but those who live wisely will be kept safe.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will have everything he needs,
but the one who ignores the poor will receive many curses.
28 When the wicked get control, everybody hides,
but when they die, good people do well.
43 All the people were amazed at the great power of God.
Jesus Talks About His Death
While everyone was wondering about all that Jesus did, he said to his followers, 44 “Don’t forget what I tell you now: The Son of Man will be handed over to people.” 45 But the followers did not understand what this meant; the meaning was hidden from them so they could not understand. But they were afraid to ask Jesus about it.
Who Is the Greatest?
46 Jesus’ followers began to have an argument about which one of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he took a little child and stood the child beside him. 48 Then Jesus said, “Whoever accepts this little child in my name accepts me. And whoever accepts me accepts the One who sent me, because whoever is least among you all is really the greatest.”
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.