Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
140 (A)Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men;
Preserve me from (B)violent men
2 Who (C)devise evil things in their hearts;
They (D)continually stir up wars.
3 They (E)sharpen their tongues as a serpent;
(F)Poison of a viper is under their lips. [a]Selah.
4 (G)Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
(H)Preserve me from violent men
Who have [b]purposed to [c](I)trip up my feet.
5 The proud have (J)hidden a trap for me, and cords;
They have spread a (K)net by the [d]wayside;
They have set (L)snares for me. Selah.
6 I (M)said to the Lord, “You are my God;
(N)Give ear, O Lord, to the (O)voice of my supplications.
7 “O [e]God the Lord, (P)the strength of my salvation,
You have (Q)covered my head in the day of [f]battle.
8 “Do not grant, O Lord, the (R)desires of the wicked;
Do not promote (S)his evil device, that they not be exalted. Selah.
9 “As for the head of those who surround me,
May the (T)mischief of their lips cover them.
10 “May (U)burning coals fall upon them;
May they be (V)cast into the fire,
Into [g]deep pits from which they (W)cannot rise.
11 “May a [h]slanderer not be established in the earth;
(X)May evil hunt the violent man [i]speedily.”
15 “Then I will give you (A)shepherds after My own heart, who will (B)feed you on knowledge and understanding. 16 It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,” declares the Lord, “they will (C)no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again. 17 At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The (D)Throne of the Lord,’ and (E)all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the (F)name of the Lord; nor will they (G)walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart. 18 (H)In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together (I)from the land of the north to the (J)land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance.
6 (A)Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (B)the wrath of God comes upon (C)the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be (D)partakers with them; 8 for (E)you were formerly (F)darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as (G)children of Light 9 (for (H)the fruit of the Light consists in all (I)goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 [a](J)trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (K)Do not participate in the unfruitful (L)deeds of (M)darkness, but instead even [b](N)expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible (O)when they are [c]exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [d]it says,
15 Therefore [e]be careful how you (S)walk, not (T)as unwise men but as wise, 16 [f](U)making the most of your time, because (V)the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but (W)understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And (X)do not get drunk with wine, [g]for that is (Y)dissipation, but be (Z)filled with the Spirit, 19 (AA)speaking to [h]one another in (AB)psalms and (AC)hymns and spiritual (AD)songs, (AE)singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 (AF)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to [i](AG)God, even the Father;
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