Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
121 I have done what is fair and right.
Do not leave me at the mercy of those who oppress me.
122 Guarantee my well-being.
Do not let arrogant people oppress me.
123 My eyes are strained from looking for you to save me
and from looking for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124 Treat me with kindness,
and teach me your laws.
125 I am your servant.
Help me understand
so that I may come to know your written instructions.
126 It is time for you to act, O Lord.[a]
Even though people have abolished your teachings,
127 I love your commandments more than gold, more than pure gold.
128 I follow the straight paths of your guiding principles.
I hate every pathway that leads to lying.
The Reasons for Proverbs
1 The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, ⌞given⌟
2 to grasp wisdom and discipline,
to understand deep thoughts,
3 to acquire the discipline of wise behavior—
righteousness and justice and fairness—
4 to give insight to gullible people,
to give knowledge and foresight to the young—
5 a wise person will listen and continue to learn,
and an understanding person will gain direction—
6 to understand a proverb and a clever saying,
the words of wise people and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.
20 Wisdom sings her song in the streets.
In the public squares she raises her voice.
21 At the corners of noisy streets she calls out.
At the entrances to the city she speaks her words,
22 “How long will you gullible people love being so gullible?
How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking?
How long will you fools hate knowledge?
23 “Turn to me when I warn you.
I will generously pour out my spirit for you.
I will make my words known to you.
24 “I called, and you refused to listen.
I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention.
25 You ignored all my advice.
You did not want me to warn you.
26 I will laugh at your calamity.
I will make fun of you
when panic strikes you,
27 when panic strikes you like a violent storm,
when calamity strikes you like a wind storm,
when trouble and anguish come to you.
28 “They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer.
They will look for me, but they will not find me,
29 because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord.
30 They refused my advice.
They despised my every warning.
31 They will eat the fruit of their lifestyle.
They will be stuffed with their own schemes.
32 “Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away.
Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference.
33 But whoever listens to me will live without worry
and will be free from the dread of disaster.”
A Story about a Mustard Seed(A)
30 Jesus asked, “How can we show what God’s kingdom is like? To what can we compare it? 31 It’s like a mustard seed planted in the ground. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds on earth. 32 However, when planted, it comes up and becomes taller than all the garden plants. It grows such large branches that birds can nest in its shade.”
33 Jesus spoke ⌞God’s⌟ word to them using many illustrations like these. In this way people could understand what he taught. 34 He did not speak to them without using an illustration. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.
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