Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹ A prayer of David.
Hear, Adonai, a just plea, listen to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer—from lips with no deceit.
² From Your presence comes my vindication.
Your eyes see what is right.
³ You have examined my heart.
You searched me at night.
Though You test me, You find nothing.
I resolved that my mouth will not sin.
⁴ As for the deeds of mankind—
by the word of Your lips
I have kept out of the ways of the violent.
⁵ My steps have kept on Your paths.
My feet have not slipped.
⁶ I called upon You, O God,
    for You will answer me.
Incline Your ear to me,
    hear my speech.
⁷ Be wonderful with Your lovingkindness,
O Savior of those taking refuge at Your right hand
from those rising up against them.
⁸ Protect me like the pupil of the eye.
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings,
⁹ from the wicked who attack me—
    my enemies, who surround me.
¹⁰ Their callous heart they shut tight.
With their mouth they speak proudly.
¹¹ Our steps are now surrounded.
They set their eyes to throw us down to the ground,
¹² like a lion eager to tear to pieces,
like a young lion crouching in cover.
¹³ Arise, Adonai! Confront him!
    Make him bow down!
Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,
¹⁴ from men, with Your hand, Adonai,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their belly with Your treasure
—with plenty of children—
and leave their surplus to their babes.
¹⁵ I in righteousness will behold Your face!
When I awake,
    I will be satisfied with Your likeness.

⁵ Thus says Adonai:
    “Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
        and depends on flesh as his arm,
        and whose heart turns from Adonai.
⁶ For he will be like a bush in the desert.
    He cannot see goodness when it comes,
    but will dwell in parched places in the wilderness—
        a salt land where no one lives.
⁷ Blessed is the one who trusts in Adonai,
    whose confidence is in Adonai.
⁸ For he will be like a tree planted by the waters,
        spreading out its roots by a stream.
    It has no fear when heat comes,
        but its leaves will be green.
    It does not worry in a year of drought,
    nor depart from yielding fruit.

⁹ “The heart is deceitful above all things,
    and incurable—who can know it?
¹⁰ I Adonai search the heart,
    I try the mind,
    to give every man according to his ways,
        according to the fruit of his deeds.
¹¹ As a partridge that broods over young that she did not lay,
    so is one who gets wealth, unjustly.
    In the middle of his days it will abandon him,
    so at his end he will be a fool.^[a]
12 Throne of glory on high from the beginning!
    Place of our sanctuary,
¹³ Adonai, You are the hope of Israel!
    All who forsake You will be ashamed.
    Those who depart from You
        will be written in the dirt,
    for they have forsaken Adonai,
        the fountain of living waters.
¹⁴ Heal me, Adonai, and I will be healed.
    Save me, and I will be saved.
    For You are my praise.
¹⁵ Look, they are saying to me,
    “Where is the word of Adonai?
    Let it come now!”^[b]
16 As for me, I have not run away from being a shepherd after You,
    nor have I desired the woeful day.
    What came out of my lips You know—it was before You.
¹⁷ Be not a ruin to me—
    You are my refuge in the evil day.
¹⁸ Let my persecutors be ashamed,
    yet let me not be ashamed.
    Let them be dismayed,
    but let me not be dismayed.
    Bring on them the evil day,
    Destroy them with double destruction.