Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 127
God’s Blessings in the Home
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
Judgment and the Future Belong to God
16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that, in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter and for every work.”(A) 18 I said to myself with regard to humans that God is testing[a] them to show that they are but animals.(B) 19 For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.(C) 20 All go to one place, all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.(D) 21 Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?(E) 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them?(F)
4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power—with no one to comfort them.(G) 2 And I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive, 3 but better than both is the one who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.(H)
4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.(I)
5 Fools fold their hands
and consume their own flesh.(J)
6 Better is a handful with quiet
than two handfuls with toil
and a chasing after wind.(K)
7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.(L)
Further Instructions
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.(A) 3 At the same time, pray for us as well, that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison,(B) 4 so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.
5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.[a](C) 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.(D)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.