Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Prosperity Comes from the Lord.
A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.
Remember God in Your Youth
12 (A)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the (B)evil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the (C)sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; 3 on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and strong men are (D)bent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and (E)those who look through [a]windows grow [b]dim; 4 and the doors on the street are shut as the (F)sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the (G)daughters of song will [c]sing softly. 5 Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal (H)home while the (I)mourners move around in the street. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is [d]broken and the (J)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the (K)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the [e](L)spirit will return to (M)God who gave it. 8 “(N)Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!”
22 And He said to His disciples, “(A)For this reason I tell you, [a]do not worry about your [b]life, as to what you are to eat; nor for your body, as to what you are to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the (B)ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor (C)barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add a [c](D)day to his [d]life’s span? 26 Therefore if you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about the other things? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither labor nor [e]spin; but I tell you, not even (E)Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 Now if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? (F)You of little faith! 29 And do not [f]seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not (G)keep worrying. 30 For [g]all these things are what the nations of the world [h]eagerly seek; and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But [i]seek His kingdom, and (H)these things will be [j]provided to you.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.