Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

62 I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. ² Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress. Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?

^3-4 But what is this? They pick on me at a time when my throne^[a] is tottering; they plot my death and use lies and deceit to try to force me from the throne. They are so friendly to my face while cursing in their hearts!

⁵ But I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. ⁶ Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense, and fortress—why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?

⁷ My protection and success^[b] come from God alone. He is my refuge, a Rock where no enemy can reach me. ⁸ O my people, trust him all the time. Pour out your longings before him, for he can help! ⁹ The greatest of men or the lowest—both alike are nothing in his sight. They weigh less than air on scales.

¹⁰ Don’t become rich by extortion and robbery; if your riches increase, don’t be proud. ^11-12 God has said it many times, that power belongs to him (and also, O Lord, steadfast love belongs to you). He rewards each one of us according to what our works deserve.

² But the Lord is bringing a lawsuit against Judah. Jacob will be justly punished for his ways. ³ When he was born, he struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. ⁴ Yes, he wrestled with the Angel and prevailed. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. He met God there at Bethel face-to-face. God spoke to him— ⁵ the Lord, the God of heaven’s armies—Jehovah is his name.

⁶ Oh, come back to God. Live by the principles of love and justice, and always be expecting much from him, your God.

⁷ But no, my people are like crafty merchants selling from dishonest scales—they love to cheat. ⁸ Ephraim boasts, “I am so rich! I have gotten it all by myself!” But riches can’t make up for sin.

⁹ “I am the same Lord, the same God, who delivered you from slavery in Egypt, and I am the one who will consign you to living in tents again, as you do each year at the Tabernacle Feast. ¹⁰ I sent my prophets to warn you with many a vision and many a parable and dream.”

¹¹ But the sins of Gilgal flourish just the same. Row on row of altars—like furrows in a field—are used for sacrifices to your idols. And Gilead, too, is full of fools^[a] who worship idols. ¹² Jacob fled to Syria and earned a wife by tending sheep. ¹³ Then the Lord led his people out of Egypt by a prophet, who guided and protected them. ¹⁴ But Ephraim has bitterly provoked the Lord. The Lord will sentence him to death as payment for his sins.

¹⁶ Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Good master, what must I do to have eternal life?”

¹⁷ “When you call me good you are calling me God,” Jesus replied, “for God alone is truly good.^[a] But to answer your question, you can get to heaven if you keep the commandments.”

¹⁸ “Which ones?” the man asked.

And Jesus replied, “Don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, ¹⁹ honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself!”

²⁰ “I’ve always obeyed every one of them,” the youth replied. “What else must I do?”

²¹ Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²² But when the young man heard this, he went away sadly, for he was very rich.