Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
A Prayer Against Liars
For the director of music. By the sheminith. A song of David.
12 Save me, Lord, because the good people are all gone.
No true believers are left on earth.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbors.
They say one thing and mean another.
3 The Lord will stop those lying lips.
He will cut off those bragging tongues.
4 They say, “Our tongues will help us win.
We can say what we wish. No one is our master.”
5 But the Lord says,
“I will now rise up
because the poor are being hurt.
Because of the moans of the helpless,
I will give them the help they want.”
6 The Lord’s words are pure.
They are like silver purified by fire,
like silver purified seven times over.
7 Lord, keep us safe.
Always protect us from such people.
8 The wicked are all around us.
Everyone loves what is wrong.
12 Some people think they are doing what’s right.
But what they are doing will really kill them.
13 When someone is laughing, he may be sad inside.
And when the laughter is over, there is sorrow.
14 Evil people will be paid back for their evil ways.
And good people will be rewarded for their good ones.
15 A foolish person will believe anything.
But a wise person thinks about what he does.
16 A wise person is careful and stays out of trouble.
But a foolish person is quick to act and careless.
17 A person who quickly loses his temper does foolish things.
But a person with understanding remains calm.
18 Foolish people get nothing for their work but more foolishness.
But wise people are rewarded with knowledge.
19 Evil people will have to bow down to good people.
The wicked will bow down at the door of those who do right.
20 The poor are rejected, even by their neighbors.
But rich people have many friends.
21 It is a sin to hate your neighbor.
But being kind to the needy brings happiness.
22 Those who make evil plans will be ruined.
But people love and trust those who plan to do good.
23 Those who work hard make a profit.
But those who only talk will be poor.
24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth.
But foolish people will only be rewarded with more foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives.
But a false witness is a traitor.
26 A person who respects the Lord will have security.
And his children will be protected.
27 Respect for the Lord gives life.
It is like a fountain of water that can save people from death.
28 A king is honored when he has many people to rule.
But a prince is ruined if he has none.
29 A person who does not quickly get angry shows that he has understanding.
But a person who quickly loses his temper shows his foolishness.
30 Peace of mind means a healthy body.
But jealousy will rot your bones.
31 Whoever is cruel to the poor insults their Maker.
But anyone who is kind to the needy honors God.
Peter and John at the Council
4 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, a group of men came up to them. There were Jewish priests, the captain of the soldiers that guarded the Temple, and some Sadducees. 2 They were upset because the two apostles were teaching the people. Peter and John were preaching that people will rise from death through the power of Jesus. 3 The Jewish leaders grabbed Peter and John and put them in jail. It was already night, so they kept them in jail until the next day. 4 But many of those who heard Peter and John preach believed the things they said. There were now about 5,000 men in the group of believers.
5 The next day the Jewish rulers, the Jewish elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there. Everyone from the high priest’s family was there. 7 They made Peter and John stand before them. The Jewish leaders asked them: “By what power or authority did you do this?”
8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said to them, “Rulers of the people and you elders, 9 are you questioning us about a good thing that was done to a crippled man? Are you asking us who made him well? 10 We want all of you and all the Jewish people to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth! You nailed him to a cross, but God raised him from death. This man was crippled, but he is now well and able to stand here before you because of the power of Jesus! 11 Jesus is
‘the stone[a] that you builders did not want.
It has become the cornerstone.’ Psalm 118:22
12 Jesus is the only One who can save people. No one else in the world is able to save us.”
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.