Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁸ He will keep his agreement forever.
    He will keep his promises always.
⁹ He will keep his agreement he made with Abraham.
    He will keep the promise he made to Isaac.
¹⁰ He made it a law for the people of Jacob.
    He made it an agreement with Israel to last forever.
¹¹ The Lord said, “I will give you the land of Canaan.
    The promised land will belong to you.”

³⁷ Then he brought his people out,
    and they carried with them silver and gold.
    Not one of his people stumbled.
³⁸ The Egyptians were glad when they left
    because the Egyptians were afraid of them.
³⁹ The Lord covered them with a cloud
    and lit up the night with fire.
⁴⁰ When they asked, he brought them quail.
    He filled them with bread from heaven.
⁴¹ God split the rock, and water flowed out.
    It ran like a river through the desert.
⁴² He remembered his holy promise
    to his servant Abraham.

⁴³ So God brought his people out with joy.
    He brought out his chosen ones with singing.
⁴⁴ He gave them lands that belonged to other nations.
    They received what others had worked for.
⁴⁵ This was so they would keep his orders
    and obey his teachings.

Praise the Lord!

¹⁰ My child, listen and accept what I say.
    Then you will have a long life.
¹¹ I am guiding you in wisdom.
    And I am leading you to do what is right.
¹² Nothing will hold you back.
    You will not be overwhelmed.
¹³ Always remember what you have been taught.
    Don’t let go of it.
Keep safe all that you have learned.
    It is the most important thing in your life.
¹⁴ Don’t follow the ways of the wicked.
    Don’t do what evil people do.
¹⁵ Avoid their ways. Don’t go near what they do.
    Stay away from them and keep on going.
¹⁶ They cannot sleep until they do evil.
    They cannot rest until they hurt someone.
¹⁷ They fill themselves with wickedness and cruelty
    as if they were eating bread and drinking wine.

¹⁸ The way of the good person is like the light of dawn.
    It grows brighter and brighter until it is full daylight.
¹⁹ But the wicked are like those who stumble in the dark.
    They can’t even see what has hurt them.

²⁰ My child, pay attention to my words.
    Listen closely to what I say.
²¹ Don’t ever forget my words.
    Keep them deep within your heart.
²² These words are the secret to life for those who find them.
    They bring health to the whole body.
²³ Be very careful about what you think.
    Your thoughts run your life.
²⁴ Don’t use your mouth to tell lies.
    Don’t ever say things that are not true.
²⁵ Keep your eyes focused on what is right.
    Keep looking straight ahead to what is good.
²⁶ Be careful what you do.
    Always do what is right.
²⁷ Do not do anything unless it is right.
    Stay away from evil.