Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
BOOK III
(Psalms 73–89)
God’s Ways Vindicated
A psalm of Asaph.(A)
73 God is indeed good to Israel,
to the pure in heart.(B)
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my steps nearly went astray.(C)
3 For I envied the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(D)
4 They have an easy time until they die,[a]
and their bodies are well fed.[b](E)
5 They are not in trouble like others;
they are not afflicted like most people.(F)
6 Therefore, pride is their necklace,
and violence covers them like a garment.(G)
7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;
the imaginations of their hearts run wild.(H)
8 They mock, and they speak maliciously;
they arrogantly threaten oppression.(I)
9 They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues strut across the earth.(J)
10 Therefore his people turn to them[c]
and drink in their overflowing words.[d](K)
11 The wicked say, ‘How can God know?
Does the Most High know everything? ’(L)
12 Look at them – the wicked!
They are always at ease,
and they increase their wealth.(M)
13 Did I purify my heart
and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?(N)
14 For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning.(O)
15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,
I would have betrayed your people.[e](P)
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it seemed hopeless[f](Q)
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary.
Then I understood their destiny.(R)
18 Indeed, you put them in slippery places;
you make them fall into ruin.(S)
19 How suddenly they become a desolation!
They come to an end, swept away by terrors.(T)
20 Like one waking from a dream,
Lord, when arising, you will despise their image.(U)
21 When I became embittered
and my innermost being[g] was wounded,(V)
22 I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal towards you.(W)
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold my right hand.(X)
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterwards you will take me up in glory.[h](Y)
25 Who do I have in heaven but you?
And I desire nothing on earth but you.(Z)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[i] of my heart,
my portion for ever.(AA)
27 Those far from you will certainly perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.(AB)
28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all you do.(AC)
First Vision: Locusts
7 The Lord God showed me this: He was forming a swarm of locusts(A) at the time the spring crop first began to sprout – after the cutting of the king’s hay. 2 When the locusts finished eating the vegetation of the land,(B) I said, ‘Lord God, please forgive!(C) How will Jacob survive, since he is so small? ’(D)
3 The Lord relented concerning this.(E) ‘It will not happen,’ he said.
Second Vision: Fire
4 The Lord God showed me this: The Lord God was calling for a judgement by fire.(F) It consumed the great deep and devoured the land. 5 Then I said, ‘Lord God, please stop!(G) How will Jacob survive, since he is so small? ’
6 The Lord relented concerning this.(H) ‘This will not happen either,’ said the Lord God.
Engage in Battle
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies(A) previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, 19 having faith(B) and a good conscience,(C) which some(D) have rejected and have shipwrecked the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus(E) and Alexander,(F) whom I have delivered to Satan,(G) so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
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