Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Blessed Are the Forgiven
A Maskil[a] of David.
32 (A)Blessed is the one whose (B)transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord (C)counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit (D)there is no deceit.
3 For when I kept silent, my (E)bones wasted away
through my (F)groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your (G)hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up[b] as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 I (H)acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I (I)will confess my transgressions to the Lord”,
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is (J)godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you (K)may be found;
surely in the rush of (L)great waters,
they shall not reach him.
7 You are a (M)hiding place for me;
you preserve me from (N)trouble;
you surround me with (O)shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 (A)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but (B)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him (C)who pursues righteousness.
10 There is (D)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
(E)whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more (F)the hearts of the children of man!
24 The path of life leads upwards (A)for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of (B)the proud
but (C)maintains (D)the widow's boundaries.
26 (E)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but (F)gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is (G)greedy for unjust gain (H)troubles his own household,
but he who hates (I)bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (J)ponders how to answer,
but (K)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is (L)far from the wicked,
but he (M)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 (N)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and (O)good news refreshes[a] the bones.
31 (P)The ear that listens to (Q)life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever (R)ignores instruction (S)despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof (T)gains intelligence.
33 (U)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and (V)humility comes before honour.
Greeting
1 Paul, (A)an apostle of Christ Jesus (B)by the will of God, and (C)Timothy our brother,
To the church of God that is at Corinth, (D)with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
2 (E)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
God of All Comfort
3 (F)Blessed be the (G)God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and (H)God of all comfort, 4 (I)who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in (J)Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.[a] 6 (K)If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you (L)share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers,[b] of (M)the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us (N)rely not on ourselves (O)but on God (P)who raises the dead. 10 (Q)He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. (R)On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 (S)You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf (T)for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.