Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Mem
97 How I love your law, Lord![a]
I study it all day long.
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my foes,
as it is forever with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
because I ponder your testimonies.
100 I have more understanding than my elders,
because I keep your precepts.(A)
101 I keep my steps from every evil path,
that I may observe your word.
102 From your judgments I do not turn,
for you have instructed me.
103 How sweet to my tongue is your promise,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!(B)
104 Through your precepts I gain understanding;
therefore I hate all false ways.
Chapter 9
The Two Women Invite Passersby to Their Banquets[a]
Woman Wisdom Issues Her Invitation
1 Wisdom has built her house,[b]
she has set up her seven columns;
2 She has prepared her meat, mixed her wine,
yes, she has spread her table.
3 She has sent out her maidservants; she calls[c]
from the heights out over the city:(A)
4 “Let whoever is naive turn in here;
to any who lack sense I say,
5 Come, eat of my food,
and drink of the wine I have mixed!
6 Forsake foolishness that you may live;[d]
advance in the way of understanding.”
Miscellaneous Aphorisms
7 Whoever corrects the arrogant earns insults;
and whoever reproves the wicked incurs opprobrium.
8 Do not reprove the arrogant, lest they hate you;
reprove the wise, and they will love you.(B)
9 Instruct the wise, and they become still wiser;
teach the just, and they advance in learning.
10 The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.(C)
11 For by me your days will be multiplied
and the years of your life increased.(D)
12 If you are wise, wisdom is to your advantage;
if you are arrogant, you alone shall bear it.
Woman Folly Issues Her Invitation
13 [e]Woman Folly is raucous,(E)
utterly foolish; she knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house
upon a seat on the city heights,
15 Calling to passersby
as they go on their way straight ahead:
16 “Let those who are naive turn in here,
to those who lack sense I say,
17 Stolen water is sweet,
and bread taken secretly is pleasing!”[f]
18 Little do they know that the shades are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol![g]
Chapter 2
Christ and His Commandments. 1 My children,[a] I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.(A) 2 He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.(B) 3 The way we may be sure[b] that we know him is to keep his commandments.(C) 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.(D) 5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:(E) 6 whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived.
The New Commandment.[c]
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.