Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 140[a]
Prayer for Deliverance from the Wicked
1 For the leader. A psalm of David.
I
2 Deliver me, Lord, from the wicked;
preserve me from the violent,(A)
3 From those who plan evil in their hearts,
who stir up conflicts every day,
4 [b]Who sharpen their tongue like a serpent,
venom of asps upon their lips.(B)
Selah
II
5 Keep me, Lord, from the clutches of the wicked;
preserve me from the violent,
who plot to trip me up.(C)
6 [c]The arrogant have set a trap for me;
they have spread out ropes for a net,
laid snares for me by the wayside.
Selah
7 I say to the Lord: You are my God;(D)
listen, Lord, to the words of my pleas.
8 Lord, my master, my strong deliverer,
you cover my head on the day of armed conflict.
9 Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked one;
do not let his plot succeed.
Selah
III
10 Those who surround me raise their heads;
may the mischief they threaten overwhelm them.
11 Drop burning coals upon them;(E)
cast them into the watery pit never more to rise.
12 Slanderers will not survive on earth;
evil will hunt down the man of violence to overthrow him.
13 For I know the Lord will take up the cause of the needy,
justice for the poor.
14 Then the righteous will give thanks to your name;
the upright will dwell in your presence.(F)
15 I will appoint for you shepherds after my own heart,
who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.(A)
16 When you increase in number and are fruitful in the land—
oracle of the Lord—
They will in those days no longer say,
“The ark of the covenant of the Lord!”
They will no longer think of it, or remember it,
or miss it, or make another one.
17 At that time they will call Jerusalem “the Lord’s throne.” All nations will gather together there to honor the name of the Lord at Jerusalem, and they will no longer stubbornly follow their wicked heart.(B) 18 In those days the house of Judah will walk alongside the house of Israel; together they will come from the land of the north to the land which I gave your ancestors as a heritage.(C)
Duty to Live in the Light. 6 (A)Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.[a] 7 So do not be associated with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,(B) 9 for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.(C) 10 Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.(D) 11 Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them,(E) 12 for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,(F) 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:(G)
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”[b]
15 [c]Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,(H) 16 making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. 18 And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,(I) 19 addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,(J) 20 giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.(K)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.