Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
AIN
121 I have executed judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressor.
122 [a]Answer for thy servant in that which is good, and let not the proud oppress me.
123 Mine eyes have failed in waiting for thy salvation, and for thy just promise.
124 Deal with thy [b]servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
125 I am thy servant: grant me therefore understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
126 It is [c]time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have destroyed thy Law.
127 Therefore love I thy commandments above gold, yea, above most fine gold.
128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts most just, and hate all false [d]ways.
The [a]Proverbs of Solomon
1 2 The power and use of the word of God. 7 Of the fear of God and knowledge of his word. 10 We may not consent to the enticings of sinners. 20 Wisdom complaineth that she is contemned. 24 The punishment of them that contemn her.
1 The Parables of Solomon the son of David king of Israel,
2 To know wisdom, [b]and instruction, to understand the words [c]of knowledge,
3 To receive [d]instruction to do wisely, by [e]justice and judgment and equity,
4 To give unto the [f]simple sharpness of wit, and to the child knowledge and discretion.
5 And wise man shall hear and increase in learning, and a man of [g]understanding shall attain unto wise counsels,
6 To understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 ¶ (A)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
20 ¶ [a]Wisdom crieth without: she uttereth her voice in the [b]streets.
21 She calleth in the high street, among the prease in the enterings of the gates, and uttereth her words in the city, saying,
22 O ye [c]foolish, how long will ye love foolishness? and the scornful take their pleasure in scorning? and the fools hate knowledge?
23 (Turn you at my correction: lo, I will pour out my mind unto you, and make you understand my words.)
24 Because I have called, and ye refused: I have stretched out mine hand, and none would regard.
25 But ye have despised all my counsel, and would none of my correction,
26 I will also [d]laugh at your destruction, and mock when your fear cometh.
27 When [e]your fear cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirlwind: when affliction and anguish shall come upon you,
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer: they shall seek me early, but they shall not [f]find me,
29 Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.
30 They would none of my counsel, but [g]despised all my correction.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the [h]fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For [i]ease slayeth the foolish, and the prosperity of fools destroyeth them.
33 But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from fear of evil.
30 ¶ (A)[a]He said moreover, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which when it is sown in the earth, is the least of all seeds that be in the earth:
32 But after that it is sown, it groweth up, and is greatest of all herbs, and beareth great branches, so that the fowls of the heaven may build under the shadow of it.
33 And (B)with many such parables he preached the word unto them, [b]as they were able to hear it.
34 And without parables spake he nothing unto them: but he [c]expounded all things to his disciples apart.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.