Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

³ Do not trust in nobles,
in man, who cannot save.^(C)
4 When his breath^[a] leaves him,
he returns to the ground;
on that day his plans die.^(D)

⁵ Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,^(E)
6 the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea and everything in them.^(F)
He remains faithful forever,^(G)
7 executing justice for the exploited
and giving food to the hungry.^(H)
The Lord frees prisoners.^(I)
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.^(J)
The Lord raises up those who are oppressed.^[b](K)
The Lord loves the righteous.^(L)
9 The Lord protects foreigners
and helps the fatherless and the widow,^(M)
but He frustrates the ways of the wicked.^(N)

¹⁰ The Lord reigns forever;
Zion, your God reigns for all generations.^(O)
Hallelujah!

³ A destitute leader^[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.^(A)

⁴ Those who reject the law praise the wicked,^(B)
but those who keep the law battle against them.^(C)

⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,^(D)
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.^(E)

⁶ Better a poor man who lives with integrity^(F)
than a rich man who distorts right and wrong.^[b](G)

⁷ A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.^(H)

⁸ Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest^(I)
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.^(J)

⁹ Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law—
even his prayer is detestable.^(K)

¹⁰ The one who leads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,^(L)
but the blameless will inherit what is good.^(M)