Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹ I look up to you,
    to the one who sits enthroned in heaven.
² As servants depend on their masters,
    as a maid depends on her mistress,
    so we depend on Yahweh our Elohim
        until he has pity on us.
³ Have pity on us, O Yahweh.
    Have pity on us
    because we have suffered more than our share of contempt.
⁴ We have suffered more than our share of ridicule
    from those who are carefree.
    We have suffered more than our share of contempt
    from those who are arrogant.

⁴ “Don’t you know
    that from ancient times,
        from the time humans were placed on earth,
⁵             the triumph of the wicked is short-lived,
                and the joy of the godless person lasts only a moment?
⁶ If his height reaches to the sky
    and his head touches the clouds,
⁷         he will certainly rot^[a] like his own feces.
    Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
⁸ He will fly away like a dream and not be found.
    He will be chased away like a vision in the night.
⁹ Eyes that saw him will see him no more.
    His home will not look at him again.
¹⁰ His children will have to ask the poor for help.
    His own hands will have to give back his wealth.
¹¹ His bones, once full of youthful vigor,
    will lie down with him in the dust.