Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Unless the Lord Builds the House

A Song of ^(A)Ascents. Of Solomon.

From Dust to Dust

¹⁶ Moreover, ^(A)I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even ^(B)there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. ¹⁷ I said in my heart, ^(C)God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is ^(D)a time for every matter and for every work. ¹⁸ I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but ^(E)beasts. ^19 (F)For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.^{[a] 20} All go to one place. All are from ^(G)the dust, and to dust all return. ²¹ Who knows whether ^(H)the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? ²² So I saw that there is ^(I)nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for ^(J)that is his lot. Who can bring him to see ^(K)what will be after him?

Evil Under the Sun

4 ^(L)Again I ^(M)saw all ^(N)the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had ^(O)no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. ² And I ^(P)thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. ³ But ^(Q)better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

⁴ Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is ^(R)vanity^[b] and a striving after wind.

⁵ The fool ^(S)folds his hands and ^(T)eats his own flesh.

^6 (U)Better is a handful of ^(V)quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

^7 (W)Again, I saw vanity under the sun: ⁸ one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his ^(X)eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, ^(Y)“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy ^(Z)business.

Further Instructions

^2 (A)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it ^(B)with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may ^(C)open to us a door for the word, ^(D)to declare the mystery of Christ, ^(E)on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

^5 (F)Walk in wisdom toward ^(G)outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always ^(H)be gracious, ^(I)seasoned with salt, ^(J)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.