Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 103

Of David.

Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness

16 The Lord’s word came to me: ² Human one, show Jerusalem her detestable practices. ³ Say, The Lord God proclaims to Jerusalem: By origin and birth you are from the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite, your mother a Hittite. ⁴ This is how you were treated on the day you were born: Your umbilical cord wasn’t cut, you weren’t washed clean with water or rubbed with salt, and you weren’t wrapped in blankets. ⁵ No one took pity or cared enough to do any of these things for you. You were despised on the day of your birth and thrown out on the open field. ⁶ When I happened to come by, I saw you flailing about in your blood. I said to you while you were still bloody, “Live!” ⁷ I helped you to flourish like a young plant in the field, and you grew tall and became wonderfully endowed. Your breasts were firm, your hair beautifully thick. And you were completely naked.

⁸ When I passed by you, I realized that you were ready for love. So I spread my cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I made a solemn promise and entered into a covenant with you, and you became mine. This is what the Lord God says. ⁹ Then I washed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and poured oil on you. ¹⁰ I clothed you with colorful garments, put fine sandals on you, wrapped your head in linen, and covered you with jewels. ¹¹ I adorned you with fine jewelry, and put bracelets on your wrists and a necklace around your neck. ¹² I put a ring in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³ I adorned you with gold and silver, and your garments were made of the finest linen and brocade. You ate the finest flour, honey, and oil. You became very beautiful, fit for royalty. ¹⁴ Among the nations you were famous for your beauty. It was perfect because of the splendor that I had given you. This is what the Lord God says.

God’s faithfulness and justice

3 So what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Or what’s the benefit of circumcision? ² Plenty in every way. First of all, the Jews were trusted with God’s revelations. ³ What does it matter, then, if some weren’t faithful? Their lack of faith won’t cancel God’s faithfulness, will it? ⁴ Absolutely not! God must be true, even if every human being is a liar, as it is written:

⁵ But if our lack of righteousness confirms God’s justice, what will we say? That God, who brings wrath upon us, isn’t just (I’m speaking rhetorically)? ⁶ Absolutely not! If God weren’t just, how could he judge the world? ⁷ But if God’s truth is demonstrated by my lie and it increases his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner? ⁸ Why not say, “Let’s do evil things so that good things will come out of it”? (Some people who slander us accuse us of saying that, but these people deserve criticism.)