Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

^3-9 Don’t put your life in the hands of experts
    who know nothing of life, of salvation life.
Mere humans don’t have what it takes;
    when they die, their projects die with them.
Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,
    put your hope in God and know real blessing!
God made sky and soil,
    sea and all the fish in it.
He always does what he says—
    he defends the wronged,
    he feeds the hungry.
God frees prisoners—
    he gives sight to the blind,
    he lifts up the fallen.
God loves good people, protects strangers,
    takes the side of orphans and widows,
    but makes short work of the wicked.

¹⁰ God’s in charge—always.
    Zion’s God is God for good!
    Hallelujah!

² The rich and the poor shake hands as equals—
    God made them both!

³ A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
    a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

⁴ The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God
    is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.

⁵ The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick;
    if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.

⁶ Point your kids in the right direction—
    when they’re old they won’t be lost.

⁷ The poor are always ruled over by the rich,
    so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power.

⁸ Whoever sows sin reaps weeds,
    and bullying anger sputters into nothing.

⁹ Generous hands are blessed hands
    because they give bread to the poor.

¹⁰ Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down;
    you need a break from bickering and griping!

¹¹ God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken;
    good leaders also delight in their friendship.

¹² God guards knowledge with a passion,
    but he’ll have nothing to do with deception.

¹³ The loafer says, “There’s a lion on the loose!
    If I go out I’ll be eaten alive!”

¹⁴ The mouth of a prostitute is a bottomless pit;
    you’ll fall in that pit if you’re on the outs with God.

¹⁵ Young people are prone to foolishness and fads;
    the cure comes through tough-minded discipline.

¹⁶ Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever,
    you’ll end up the poorer for it.