Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

123 The song of degrees. To thee I have raised mine eyes; that dwellest in heavens. (I raise up my eyes to thee; who livest in heaven.)

² Lo! as the eyes of servants be in the hands of their lords. As the eyes of the handmaid be in the hands of her lady; so our eyes be to our Lord God, till he have mercy on us. (Lo! like the eyes of the servant look to the hand of his lord; and like the eyes of the servantess look to the hand of her lady; so let our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he have mercy upon us.)

³ Lord, have thou mercy on us, have thou mercy on us; for we be much filled with despising (for we be greatly despised).

⁴ For our soul is much filled; we be shame to them that be abundant with riches, and despising to proud men. (For our soul is filled full, with the scorn of those who have abundant riches; and with disdain from the proud.)

20 And then Zophar (the) Naamathite answered, and said,

² Therefore my thoughts diverse come one after another; and the mind is ravished into diverse things. (And so now my thoughts come diversely one after another; and my mind thinketh on many different things.)

³ I shall hear the teaching, by which thou reprovest me; and the spirit of mine understanding shall answer me. (I have heard the words, with which thou rebukest me; and the spirit of my understanding hath given me an answer.)

⁴ I know this from the beginning, since man was set on [the] earth, (Certainly thou knowest this from the beginning, since man was put on the earth,)

⁵ that the praising of wicked men is short(-lived), and the joy of an hypocrite is at the likeness of a point soon passing (away).

⁶ Though his pride go up into (the) heaven(s), and his head toucheth the clouds,

⁷ he shall be lost in the end, as a dunghill; and, they that have seen him, shall say, Where is he? (he shall be discarded in the end, like his own dung; and then they who have seen him, shall say, Where is he?)

⁸ As a dream flying away, or soon forgotten, he shall not be found; he shall pass as the sight of nights. (Like a dream flying away, or soon forgotten, he shall not be found; he shall pass away like a vision in the night.)

⁹ The eye that saw him shall not see him again; and his place shall no more behold him.

¹⁰ His sons shall be all-broken with neediness; and his hands shall yield to him his sorrow. (His sons shall make recompense to the poor; and with their hands they shall give back their goods to them.)

¹¹ His bones shall be [full-]filled with the vices of his young waxing age; and they shall sleep with him in (the) dust.

¹⁶ For we not following unwise tales, have made known to you the virtue and the before-knowing [the virtue and prescience, or before-knowing,] of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we were made beholders of his greatness [but made beholders of his greatness].

¹⁷ For he took of God the Father honour and glory, by such manner voice slid down to him from the great glory, This is my loved Son, in whom I have pleased to me; hear ye him.

¹⁸ And we heard this voice brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy hill.

¹⁹ And we have a firmer word of prophecy, to which ye giving attention do well, as to a lantern that giveth light in a dark place, till the day begin to give light, and the day star spring in your hearts.

²⁰ And first understand ye this thing, that each prophecy of scripture is not made by proper interpretation; [First understanding this thing, that each prophecy of scripture is not made by proper, or own, interpretation;]

²¹ for prophecy was not brought any time by man's will, but the holy men of God inspired with the Holy Ghost spake.