Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Happy is the person who fears the Lord.
    He loves what the Lord commands.
² His descendants will be powerful in the land.
    The children of honest people will be blessed.
³ His house will be full of wealth and riches.
    His goodness will continue forever.

⁴ A light shines in the dark for honest people.
    It shines for those who are good and kind and merciful.
⁵ It is good to be kind and generous.
    Whoever is fair in his business
⁶ will never be defeated.
    A good person will be remembered from now on.
⁷ He won’t be afraid of bad news.
    He is safe because he trusts the Lord.
⁸ That person is confident. He will not be afraid.
    He will look down on his enemies.
⁹ He gives freely to the poor.
    The things he does are right and will continue forever.
    He will be given great honor.

¹⁰ The wicked will see this and become angry.
    They will grind their teeth in anger and then disappear.
    The wishes of the wicked will come to nothing.

⁶ A fool’s words start quarrels.
    They make people want to give him a beating.

⁷ A fool’s words will ruin him.
    He will be trapped by his own words.

⁸ The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food.
    People take them all in.

⁹ A person who doesn’t work hard
    is just like a person who destroys things.

¹⁰ The Lord is like a strong tower.
    Those who do what is right can run to him for safety.

¹¹ Rich people trust their wealth to protect them.
    They think it is like the high walls of a city.

¹² People who are proud will be ruined.
    But those who are not proud will be honored.