Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 127[a]
A song of ascents;[b] by Solomon.
127 If the Lord does not build a house,[c]
then those who build it work in vain.
If the Lord does not guard a city,[d]
then the watchman stands guard in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise early, come home late,
and work so hard for your food.[e]
Yes,[f] he provides for those whom he loves even when they sleep.[g]
3 Yes,[h] sons[i] are a gift from the Lord;
the fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Sons born during one’s youth
are like arrows in a warrior’s hand.[j]
5 How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.
They will not be put to shame[k] when they confront[l] enemies at the city gate.
Fear God Now Because Old Age and Death Come Quickly
12 So remember[a] your Creator in the days of your youth—
before[b] the difficult[c] days come,
and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
2 before the sun and the light[d] of the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds disappear[e] after the rain;
3 when those who keep watch over the house[f] begin to tremble,[g]
and the virile men begin to stoop over,[h]
and the grinders[i] begin to cease because they grow few,
and those who look through the windows grow dim,[j]
4 and the doors along the street are shut;
when the sound of the grinding mill[k] grows low,
and one is awakened[l] by the sound of a bird,
and all their[m] songs[n] grow faint,[o]
5 and they are afraid of heights and the dangers[p] in the street;
the almond blossoms[q] grow white,[r]
and the grasshopper[s] drags itself along,[t]
and the caper berry[u] shrivels up[v]—
because man goes to his eternal home,[w]
and the mourners go about in the streets—
6 before the silver cord is removed,
or the golden bowl is broken,
or the pitcher is shattered at the well,[x]
or the water wheel[y] is broken at the cistern—
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was,
and the life’s breath[z] returns to God who gave it.
Concluding Refrain: The Teacher Restates His Thesis
Exhortation Not to Worry
22 Then[a] Jesus[b] said to his[c] disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry[d] about your[e] life, what you will eat, or about your[f] body, what you will wear. 23 For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens:[g] They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds[h] them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying[i] can add an hour to his life?[j] 26 So if[k] you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about[l] the rest? 27 Consider how the flowers[m] grow; they do not work[n] or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 28 And if[o] this is how God clothes the wild grass,[p] which is here[q] today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,[r] how much more[s] will he clothe you, you people of little faith! 29 So[t] do not be overly concerned about[u] what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things.[v] 30 For all the nations of the world pursue[w] these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, pursue[x] his[y] kingdom,[z] and these things will be given to you as well.
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