Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

^3 (E)Be gracious to us, O Lord, be gracious to us,
For we are greatly filled ^(F)with contempt.
⁴ Our soul is greatly filled
With the ^(G)scoffing of ^(H)those who are at ease,
And with the ^(I)contempt of the proud.

¹⁷ “How often is ^(A)the lamp of the wicked put out,
Or does their ^(B)calamity fall on them?
Does ^[a]God apportion destruction in His anger?
¹⁸ “Are they as ^(C)straw before the wind,
And like ^(D)chaff which the storm carries away?
¹⁹ “You say, ‘^(E)God stores away ^[b]a man’s iniquity for his sons.’
Let ^[c]God repay him so that he may know it.
²⁰ “Let his ^(F)own eyes see his decay,
And let him ^(G)drink of the wrath of ^[d]the Almighty.
²¹ “For what does he care for his household ^[e]after him,
When the number of his months is cut off?
²² “Can anyone ^(H)teach God knowledge,
In that He ^(I)judges those on high?
²³ “One ^(J)dies in his full strength,
Being wholly at ease and ^[f]satisfied;
²⁴ His ^[g]sides are filled out with fat,
And the ^(K)marrow of his bones is moist,
²⁵ While another dies with a bitter soul,
Never even ^[h]tasting anything good.
²⁶ “Together they ^(L)lie down in the dust,
And ^(M)worms cover them.

²⁷ “Behold, I know your thoughts,
And the plans by which you would wrong me.
²⁸ “For you say, ‘Where is the house of ^(N)the nobleman,
And where is the ^(O)tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’
²⁹ “Have you not asked wayfaring men,
And do you not recognize their ^[i]witness?
³⁰ “For the ^(P)wicked is reserved for the day of calamity;
They will be led forth at ^(Q)the day of fury.
³¹ “Who will ^[j]confront him with his actions,
And who will repay him for what he has done?
³² “While he is carried to the grave,
Men will keep watch over his tomb.
³³ “The ^(R)clods of the valley will ^[k]gently cover him;
Moreover, ^(S)all men will ^[l]follow after him,
While countless ones go before him.
³⁴ “How then will you vainly ^(T)comfort me,
For your answers remain full of ^[m]falsehood?”