Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

^3 (E)Be gracious to us, O Yahweh, be gracious to us,
For we are greatly saturated ^(F)with contempt.
⁴ Our soul is greatly saturated
With the ^(G)mockery of ^(H)those who are at ease,
And with the ^(I)contempt of the proud.

¹⁷ “How often is ^(A)the lamp of the wicked put out,
Or does their ^(B)disaster fall on them?
Does ^[a]God apportion destruction in His anger?
¹⁸ Are they as ^(C)straw before the wind,
And like ^(D)chaff which the storm steals away?
¹⁹ You say, ‘^(E)God stores away ^[b]a man’s wickedness for his sons.’
Let ^[c]God repay him so that he may know it.
²⁰ Let his ^(F)own eyes see his decay,
And let him ^(G)drink of the wrath of ^[d]the Almighty.
²¹ For what desire does he have for his household ^[e]after him,
When the number of his months is cut off?
²² Can anyone ^(H)teach God knowledge,
In that He ^(I)judges those on high?
²³ One ^(J)dies in his full strength,
Being wholly carefree and at ease;
²⁴ His ^[f]sides are filled out with fat,
And the ^(K)marrow of his bones is moist,
²⁵ But another dies with a bitter soul,
Never even eats anything good.
²⁶ Together they ^(L)lie down in the dust,
And ^(M)worms cover them.

²⁷ “Behold, I know your thoughts,
And the plans by which you do violence against me.
²⁸ For you say, ‘Where is the house of ^(N)the nobleman,
And where is the ^(O)tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’
²⁹ Have you not asked those who pass by along the way,
And do you not recognize their ^[g]witness?
³⁰ That the ^(P)wicked is reserved for the day of disaster;
They will be led forth at ^(Q)the day of fury.
³¹ Who will declare to his face about his actions,
And who will repay him for what he has done?
³² While he is led forth to the grave,
Men will keep watch over his tomb.
³³ The ^(R)clods of the valley will ^[h]gently cover him;
Moreover, ^(S)all men will draw up after him,
While countless ones go before him.
³⁴ How then will you vainly ^(T)comfort me,
Indeed when your answers remain full of ^[i]falsehood?”