Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Difference between Good and Sinful People

1 Happy is the man who does not walk in the way sinful men tell him to, or stand in the path of sinners, or sit with those who laugh at the truth. ² But he finds joy in the Law of the Lord and thinks about His Law day and night. ³ This man is like a tree planted by rivers of water, which gives its fruit at the right time and its leaf never dries up. Whatever he does will work out well for him.

⁴ Sinful men are not like this. They are like straw blown away by the wind. ⁵ So the sinful will not stand. They will be told they are guilty and have to suffer for it. Sinners will not stand with those who are right with God. ⁶ For the Lord knows the way of those who are right with Him. But the way of the sinful will be lost from God forever.

²³ These also are sayings of the wise. It is not good to show favor in judging. ²⁴ He who says to the sinful, “You are right and good,” will be spoken against by people and hated by nations. ²⁵ But those who speak strong words to the sinful will find joy and good will come upon them. ²⁶ To give the right answer is like a kiss on the lips.

²⁷ Get your work done outside. Make your fields ready. Then after that, build your house.

²⁸ Do not speak against your neighbor without a reason, and do not lie with your lips. ²⁹ Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me. I will pay the man for what he has done.”

³⁰ I passed by the field of the lazy man, by the grape-vines of the man without understanding. ³¹ And see, it was all grown over with thorns. The ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down. ³² When I saw it, I thought about it. I looked and received teaching. ³³ “A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands to rest,” ³⁴ and your being poor will come as a robber, and your need like a man ready to fight.

³⁹ “You do read the Holy Writings. You think you have life that lasts forever just because you read them. They do tell of Me. ⁴⁰ But you do not want to come to Me so you might have life. ⁴¹ I do not take any honor from men. ⁴² I know you and you do not have the love of God in your hearts. ⁴³ I have come in the name of My Father. You do not receive Me. If another person comes in his own name, you will receive him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe when you are always wanting honor from each other? And yet you do not look for the honor that comes from the only God.

⁴⁵ “Do not think that I will tell the Father you are guilty. The one who says you are guilty is Moses. You trust him. ⁴⁶ If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me. For Moses wrote about Me. ⁴⁷ If you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe My Words?”