Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

52 Unto the end, for Maeleth, understandings to David. The fool said in his heart: There is no God.

² They are corrupted, and become abominable in iniquities: there is none that doth good.

³ God looked down from heaven on the children of men: to see if there were any that did understand, or did seek God.

⁴ All have gone aside, they are become unprofitable together, there is none that doth good, no not one.

⁵ Shall not all the workers of iniquity know, who eat up my people as they eat bread?

⁶ They have not called upon God: there have they trembled for fear, where there was no fear. For God hath scattered the bones of them that please men: they have been confounded, because God hath despised them.

⁷ Who will give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when God shall bring back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

22 Thus saith the Lord: Go down to the house of the king of Juda, and there thou shalt speak this word,

² And thou shalt say: Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Juda, that sittest upon the throne of David: thou and thy servants, and thy people, who enter in by these gates.

³ Thus saith the Lord: Execute judgement and justice, and deliver him that is oppressed out of the hand of the oppressor: and afflict not the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, nor oppress them unjustly: and shed not innocent blood in this place.

⁴ For if you will do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house, kings of the race of David sitting upon his throne, and riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants, and their people.

⁵ But if you will not hearken to these words: I swear by myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.

⁶ For thus saith the Lord to the house of the king of Juda: Thou art to me Galaad the head of Libanus: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities not habitable.

⁷ And I will prepare against thee the destroyer and his weapons: and they shall cut down thy chosen cedars, and shall cast them headlong into the fire.

⁸ And many nations shall pass by this city: and they shall say every man to his neighbour: Why hath the Lord done so to this great city?

⁹ And they shall answer: Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and have adored strange gods, and served them.

⁴³ For there is no good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit; nor an evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit.

⁴⁴ For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape.

⁴⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.